J.-K. Huysmans 
The Oblate 
L’ Oblat

This is the final part in the spiritual journey of Durtal, J.-K. Huysmans’ alter ego. From the satanism of La-Bas (1891), he makes his way to the foot of the cross and embraces Roman Catholicism, first retreating to a Trappist monastery in En Route (1895), then living in Chartres and studying Catholic symbolism in The Cathedral (1898), and finally joining a community of monks in The Oblate (1903). Here, Durtal’s spiritual quest collides with contemporary political reality when the monastery is closed down by an anti-clerical Republican government and the religious community at Val-des-Saints is forced to disperse.

About the author

Brendan King is a freelance writer, reviewer and translator with a special interest in late nineteenth-century French fiction. His Ph.D. was on the life and work of J.-K.Huysmans.
He has translated La-Bas, Parisian Sketches, Marthe, Against Nature, Stranded, The Cathedral, The Vatard Sisters, Drifting, Modern Art, Certain Artists and The Oblate of St Benedict by J.-K. Huysmans for Dedalus.
He has also edited The Life of J.-K.Huysmans by Robert Baldick for Dedalus.
He lives in Paris.