The Mercy of God explained

The Mercy of God
Author:Jean Cau
Title Orig:La Pitié de Dieu
Translator:Richard Howard
Country:France
Language:French
Publisher:Éditions Gallimard
Pub Date:29 September 1961
English Pub Date:1963
Pages:275

The Mercy of God is a 1961 novel by the French writer Jean Cau. It tells the story of four murderers—a doctor, a boxer, a workman and a gambler—who share a prison cell and tell their respective stories. An English translation by Richard Howard was published in 1963.[1]

The novel was awarded the Prix Goncourt.[2]

Reception

Hans Koningsberger of The Saturday Review called the book "a splendid novel", and wrote: "The tradition of the book is very Sartrian and very French[.] Cau has continued and greatly contributed to this pattern rather than emulated it. The formula may sound pat, the book is fresh and original." The critic continued: "I objected, at least in this translation, to the similarity in speech between four men of such vastly different background, but, apart from that—a minor point—this novel deserves nothing but praise."[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The mercy of God. WorldCat. 837862 . 2015-08-12.
  2. Web site: Denis. Jeambar. 2003-05-15. Jean Cau sur le pont. French. L'Express. 2015-08-12.
  3. News: Koningsberger. Hans. 1963-06-03. The Saturday Review. 25.