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An aging, good-humored villager narrates a sequence of lively, anecdotal chapters that mix personal reminiscence, local color, and wry moral reflection. Through portraits of neighbors, household scenes, and community incidents—ranging from serenades and practical jokes to sickness, fire, riot, and funerals—the narrator balances jaunty humor with sober observation about family, work, and the pleasures of ordinary life. The book alternates spirited storytelling, rustic wisdom, and thoughtful asides, creating a portrait of resilience and cheer amid hardship while exploring the small rituals and relationships that shape a rural community.
When the War broke out this book was already printed and ready to appear, so I have left it untouched. The grandchildren of Colas Breugnon have just emerged as heroes and victims of a bloody epic, only to show an unquenchable flame to the world. Let me hope that the people of Europe, full of courage in spite of their sufferings, may find some solace in these reflections of “a little lamb caught between the wolf and the shepherd.”
R. R.
November, 1918.