“The true counterfeiters are those who pass off their own lies as truths.”
Part One
The novel opens with Bernard Profitendieu, a young man who discovers he is illegitimate after reading a hidden letter. Defiant, he leaves home and seeks refuge with his friend Olivier Molinier. Meanwhile, Édouard, Olivier’s uncle and a writer, arrives in Paris with plans to compose a novel titled The Counterfeiters, blurring fiction and reality.
Part Two
Bernard becomes Édouard’s secretary, while Olivier grows jealous of their closeness. A group of schoolboys, including Olivier’s younger brother Georges, falls under the influence of the manipulative Count Robert de Passavant, who exploits their innocence. Meanwhile, Édouard’s notebook reveals his literary struggles and observations on morality.
Part Three
Olivier’s depression deepens, culminating in a suicide attempt after a drunken party. Bernard rescues him, and both confront their emotional turmoil. Meanwhile, Georges’ involvement in a counterfeit coin scheme surfaces, exposing the moral decay among the youth. Édouard’s novel remains unfinished, mirroring the unresolved lives of the characters.
Key Ideas
- Exploration of authenticity versus deception in art and life.
- Critique of bourgeois morality and hypocrisy.
- The fluidity of identity and self-discovery.
- Interplay between fiction and reality.
- Moral ambiguity in human relationships.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in psychological depth and moral dilemmas.
- Fans of modernist literature with layered narratives.
- Those exploring themes of identity and societal constraints.