A master of modern French literature, André Gide (1869–1951) explored the motivation and function of the will, self-cultivation, and individual conduct in contemporary society. His perception, integrity, and purity of style brought him much acclaim, in addition to the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1947.
One of Gide's best-known works, The Immoralist (published in 1902) concerns the unhappy consequences of amoral hedonism. It tells the story of a man who travels through Europe and North Africa, attempting to transcend the limitations of conventional morality by surrendering to his appetites. Notable for its fusion of autobiographical elements with both biblical and classical symbolism, this work marks a decided shift in Gide's prose style from a somewhat decadent floweriness to his later classic clarity.
This dual-language edition, which offers a clear, accurate English translation on pages facing the original French, will be invaluable to students and teachers, Stanley Applebaum's translation preserves the passion and intensity of the original while skillfully retaining Gide's nobility and simplicity of style.