The Abyss
work by Yourcenar
Also known as: “L’Oeuvre au noir”
Quick Summary
The Abyss is a 1968 historical novel by Marguerite Yourcenar. It is an imaginary biography of a 16th-century alchemist and scholar. The novel delves into the intellectual and moral depths of its protagonist, exploring themes of human destiny, morality, and power. Yourcenar, the first woman elected to the Académie Française, was known for her classical style, erudition, and psychological subtlety in her works, often recreating past eras and figures.12
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