46 pages • 1 hour read
The Immoralist
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Book Brief
144
Novel • Fiction
France • Early 1900s
1902
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Immoralist by André Gide is a novel about Michel, a French scholar who marries Marceline, a Catholic woman, to fulfill his dying father's wish but soon falls ill with tuberculosis. As he recovers in North Africa, Michel's existential journey leads him to reject societal norms and pursue hedonistic pleasures, ultimately causing strain on his marriage and resulting in profound personal realizations and moral ambiguity. The book contains themes of illness and death.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Melancholic
Emotional
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
12,742 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviews for The Immoralist by André Gide highlight the novel's exploration of self-discovery and moral ambiguity. Positively noted are its rich prose and profound psychological insight. Critics, however, mention its slow pacing and sometimes unlikeable protagonist. Overall, the novel is praised for its depth and challenging themes, despite some narrative flaws.
Who Should Read The Immoralist?
A reader with a penchant for psychological introspection and moral dilemmas will enjoy André Gide's The Immoralist. Fans of Albert Camus' The Stranger and Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground will appreciate its exploration of existential themes and the protagonist's conflict between societal norms and personal freedom.
12,742 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Marceline
Marceline
Michel's devoted Catholic wife, who comes from a poorer background and serves as a caregiver to Michel during his illness, exhibiting a reserved and selfless nature throughout their travels.
Charles
Charles
The son of Michel's property manager, Charles is a knowledgeable and pragmatic farm manager-in-training who embodies a balance between nature and society through his work and responsibilities.
Ménalque
Ménalque
An acquaintance of Michel’s from Paris, known for his involvement in a public scandal and his advocacy for hedonism, who influences Michel with his philosophy of living in pursuit of pleasure.
144
Novel • Fiction
France • Early 1900s
1902
Adult
18+ years
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