
A sun‑drenched summer evening gathers the villagers around the old Merlier mill, a weather‑worn building perched beside the whispering Morelle stream. The surrounding fields, towering chestnut trees and cool, shady groves create a picture‑perfect backdrop for the impending wedding of Françoise, the miller’s daughter, to the handsome but notoriously idle Dominique. As guests line up at three long tables, the scent of fresh bread and river water mingles with the creak of the ancient millstone, hinting at both celebration and the weight of tradition.
Inside, the mill’s mechanics are a patchwork of rusted iron, lead and salvaged wood, its wheel turning sluggishly under the steady rush of water. The community watches the old man’s stubborn refusal to replace the wheel, a small act that hints at deeper currents beneath the festive surface. With the countryside alive in song and the river’s silver spray, listeners are invited to step into a world where love, labor, and lingering mysteries swirl together.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (164K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-12-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1840–1902
Best known for his vivid, unsparing novels of French life, this major 19th-century writer helped shape literary naturalism. He is also remembered for his fearless public defense of justice during the Dreyfus affair.
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