“May God grant us all, all of us drinkers, such a good and easy death.”
Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter
Andreas Kartak, a homeless alcoholic, sleeps under the bridges of Paris. One evening, a wealthy stranger gives him 200 francs out of pity, asking only that he repay it to a nearby chapel of Saint Thérèse when possible. Though initially intending to spend it on drink, Andreas is haunted by a sense of obligation.
Chapter 2: Fleeting Fortune
Andreas briefly enjoys his windfall—buying food, wine, and even shelter. Yet, his past as a Polish miner and his struggles with addiction resurface. He encounters a woman named Marie, who reminds him of lost love, deepening his melancholy.
Chapter 3: The Mirage of Redemption
Andreas attempts to repay the debt but is repeatedly distracted by alcohol or circumstance. He experiences strange coincidences—meeting a dying man who knew him years ago, or stumbling upon a funeral procession that feels eerily prophetic.
Chapter 4: The Final Night
In a drunken haze, Andreas finally reaches the chapel but collapses before fulfilling his promise. As he dies, he hallucinates Saint Thérèse forgiving him, granting him the “good and easy death” he longed for. His body is found with the untouched money still in his pocket.
Key Ideas
- Grace in unexpected places
- The struggle between vice and redemption
- Human dignity amid suffering
- The fleeting nature of second chances
- Spiritual longing in a material world
Who should read this book?
- Readers drawn to existential and spiritual themes
- Fans of poetic, melancholic prose
- Those interested in interwar European literature
- Anyone exploring themes of addiction and redemption