
The story opens with a meditation on places that seem to breathe life into the soul—ancient hills, mist‑covered forests, and pilgrim routes that have long drawn seekers of the divine. From the narrow meadow of Lourdes to the towering cliffs of the Sainte‑Victoire, the narrator maps a landscape where history, myth, and personal longing intertwine. This lyrical inventory sets a tone of reverent curiosity, inviting listeners to feel the hush of forgotten altars and the pull of unseen forces.
Against this rich backdrop, a wandering scholar sets out to trace the hidden line that connects these sacred sites, hoping to uncover a deeper order that governs both nature and human destiny. Along the way he meets locals whose stories echo the legends of saints, warriors, and ancient druids, and he begins to sense that his own doubts and aspirations are mirrored in the stones and streams he visits. The first act promises a journey of inner discovery as much as a travelogue, where each step may become a prayer.
Language
fr
Duration
~8 hours (472K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Clarity, Laurent Vogel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2020-02-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1862–1923
A leading voice in French letters at the turn of the 20th century, this novelist, journalist, and politician helped shape debates about nationalism, identity, and belonging. His fiction blends introspection with public life, making his work both personal and deeply tied to the politics of his era.
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