Anatole France 
Queen Pedauque 

Jacques Menetrier, the son of a cookshop owner, finds his quiet life turned upside down when the wayward monk, Jerome Coignard, takes him under his tutelage. The pair soon find themselves in the employ of eccentric theorist M. D’Asterac, translating ancient documents on spirits of fire. Soon, Jacques’ new life is thrown into chaos when he is reunited with the beautiful Catherine, whereupon he enters a love triangle that threatens to bring his whole world tumbling down. ‘The Queen Pedauque’ (1892) is one of Anatole France’s lesser-known works but holds its own as a hilarious and compelling tale. Philosophical and farcical in its own right, ‘The Queen Pedaque’ is reminiscent of classic comedic philosophical novels that came after it, such as Iris Murdoch’s ‘Under the Net’ and Sartre’s ‘The Age of Reason’. A must-read for fans of France’s work, or anyone hoping to read a true French Classic from a best selling Nobel Laureate. –