
High in the Jura, the crumbling walls of an ancient convent overlook a narrow gorge where the rarest alpine flowers bloom each spring. Here lives a widowed noblewoman known to the locals simply as “the Saint,” whose days are filled with quiet devotion, charitable work, and a humble ritual of gathering blossoms from a thorny bush to adorn her small chapel. Her reverence for the Virgin and her steadfast routine lend the desolate landscape a gentle, almost lyrical calm.
One evening, as winter loosens its grip, the Saint discovers an unexpected glow emanating from the very same bush. Drawn by the mysterious light, she returns with a trusted servant and her chaplain, only to find the illumination intensifying, revealing a startling vision that seems to descend from heaven itself. The encounter leaves them awash with awe and a deep, unanswered curiosity, hinting at wonders hidden within the silent stones of the old monastery.
Language
en
Duration
~36 minutes (34K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2018-05-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1780–1844
A French writer, librarian, and passionate book collector, he became one of the most distinctive literary voices of the early 19th century. His fantastical tales, dreamlike imagination, and love of rare books helped shape the atmosphere of French Romanticism.
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