A Living Lie: Mensonges (1896)

A Living Lie: Mensonges is a novel written by French author Paul Bourget and originally published in 1896. The story follows the life of a young man named Philippe Aubry, who is a successful artist living in Paris. Despite his outward success, Philippe is plagued by a deep sense of guilt and shame over a secret from his past.As the story unfolds, we learn that Philippe's guilt stems from a lie he told many years ago. He had been involved in a love affair with a woman named Blanche de Cazalis, who was married to another man. When Blanche's husband discovered the affair, Philippe lied to protect her, claiming that he had seduced her against her will.The lie quickly spirals out of control, leading to Philippe's social and emotional isolation. He becomes increasingly obsessed with his guilt, and his relationships with others suffer as a result. He is unable to form meaningful connections with women, and his friendships are strained by his constant self-doubt.Throughout the novel, Bourget explores themes of guilt, shame, and the destructive power of secrets. He also delves into the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which our past actions can shape our present and future.Overall, A Living Lie: Mensonges is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that offers a powerful commentary on the human condition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.