The Cathedral

audiobook

The Cathedral

by J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans

EN·~12 hours·18 chapters

Chapters

18 total

J.K. Huysmans - The Cathedral - translated by Clara Bell - Publishing History First published in France in 1898 First English edition in 1898 - I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI

0:12

CHAPTER I.

51:08

CHAPTER II.

34:13

CHAPTER III.

43:38

CHAPTER IV.

31:11

CHAPTER V.

40:07

CHAPTER VI.

57:34

CHAPTER VII.

56:31

CHAPTER VIII.

38:30

CHAPTER IX.

54:24
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Description

In the mist‑cloaked streets of Chartres, a solitary figure steps from the bustling market into a world of wind‑swept alleys and ancient stone. Durtal moves through a procession of nuns, women and hurried priests, each battling the relentless gale that seems to echo the inner turbulence of his thoughts. The city’s narrow passages open onto a shadowed forest of towering trunks, a place where the air feels thick with oil and reverence, and where the cathedral’s unseen mass looms like a silent guardian.

Within this dim sanctuary Durtan pauses on a bench, his mind turning toward the Virgin as a source of comfort and mystery. He reflects on the paradox of suffering and grace, feeling the weight of centuries of devotion while seeking a moment of personal insight. The narrative weaves together the palpable atmosphere of rain‑splattered cobbles with a contemplative exploration of faith that invites listeners to linger in the quiet before the story unfolds further.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~12 hours (731K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Suzanne Shell, Cori Samuel and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

Release date

Feb 15, 2005

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans

J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans

1848–1907

Best known for the haunting novel À rebours (Against the Grain), this French writer moved from gritty naturalism to the strange, luxurious world of decadence—and later toward spiritual and religious themes. His books became touchstones for fin-de-siècle literature and still feel vivid, unsettling, and original.

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