The Elm-tree on the Mall

"The Elm-tree on the Mall" by Anatole France is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story explores the complexities of social and religious life in France through the lens of its ecclesiastical characters, particularly focusing on Abbé Lantaigne, the head of a seminary, and his interactions with other clergy members. The novel delves into themes of ambition, morality, and the tension between tradition and modernity within the Catholic Church. The opening of the novel introduces the Cardinal-Archbishop in his salon, dictating a pastoral letter to his vicar-general, M. de Goulet, while engaging in discussions about various clergy and a profane professor named M. Guitrel. The dialogues reveal a blend of piety and intrigue, with complaints about Guitrel's teachings and his questionable associations with the local authorities, highlighting the power dynamics and moral dilemmas faced by the clergy. In this rich context, Abbé Lantaigne's character begins to take shape as someone deeply concerned about the integrity of the Church, setting the stage for further developments and conflicts in the narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Anatole France was a French poet, journalist, and novelist with several best-sellers. Ironic and skeptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters. He was a member of the Académie Française, and won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of his brilliant literary achievements, characterized as they are by a nobility of style, a profound human sympathy, grace, and a true Gallic temperament".