Le baiser au lépreux

audiobook

Le baiser au lépreux

by François Mauriac

FR·~2 hours

Chapters

Description

In this quietly reflective tale, the narrator invites us into a modest, sun‑dappled room where books line the walls and memories of a shy schoolboy linger. The story opens with a gentle homage to a lifelong lover of literature, whose modesty and keen eye for beauty shape the world we will explore. Through his recollections, we sense a lingering nostalgia for a time when simple gestures carried great weight.

The central episode follows a young man who, after years of quiet observation, is confronted with a striking act of compassion—a kiss offered to a leprous stranger. This seemingly simple encounter forces him to reckon with his own fears, the stigma of illness, and the power of human tenderness to bridge the divide between isolation and acceptance. As the narrative unfolds, the listener is drawn into the delicate balance between duty and desire.

The prose is spare yet lyrical, encouraging listeners to linger on each detail as if turning the pages of a cherished notebook. Its gentle rhythm makes the story feel like a quiet conversation, ideal for a reflective listening moment.

Collections

Browse all

Details

Language

fr

Duration

~2 hours (126K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Winston Smith. Images from the Internet Archive.

Release date

2016-03-05

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

François Mauriac

François Mauriac

1885–1970

A Nobel Prize–winning French writer whose novels explore faith, desire, guilt, and grace with unusual psychological intensity. Deeply tied to Bordeaux and to Catholic thought, he brought moral conflict and family tension to life in a way that still feels sharp today.

View all books