
A young voice opens the narrative, confessing a restless “soul disease” that has haunted them despite their youth. Rather than a conventional autobiography, the narrator chooses to write as a means of healing, hoping the words will reach others who share the same invisible affliction. The tone is intimate, almost confessional, inviting listeners into the inner landscape of a mind seeking solace through storytelling.
Set against the aftermath of great European wars, the story sketches a world where children are born into uncertainty, their lives marked by the echo of battles and the fragile hope of peace. Families return home, weary and scarred, while mothers and fathers grapple with loss, resilience, and the strange beauty that can emerge from devastation. The prose blends historical observation with lyrical description, capturing both the starkness of the era and fleeting moments of light.
As the narrator chronicles three years of struggle and observation, the listener is drawn into a reflective journey that balances personal pain with a broader portrait of a generation. The early chapters promise a poignant exploration of how illness, war, and the search for meaning intertwine, offering a thoughtful meditation on recovery and the human spirit.
Language
fi
Duration
~8 hours (482K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-06-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1810–1857
A brilliant voice of French Romanticism, his work moves easily from wit and elegance to heartbreak and regret. He is best known for lyrical poetry, vivid plays, and the deeply personal novel The Confession of a Child of the Century.
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