From the book
The Gods Are Athirst
Anatole France · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Meaning
Lemma.
A gutter carries roof water, but these precarious dwellings give it other uses. Cats make it a noisy place of desire, Brotteaux cools his wine there, and Longuemare later hides his written defence in one. Its ordinary exposure to water then damages the papers. Practical material properties, not only metaphor, link poverty, pleasure and the vulnerability of writing.
Places to read
- Chapter XI, paragraph 5Frenchdans cette gouttière: in this gutter. Brotteaux discusses the noise of mating cats.
- Chapter XII, paragraph 20Frenchdans sa gouttière: in his gutter. Wine is cooled for the guest.
- Chapter XIX, paragraph 32Frenchsa défense dans une gouttière: his defence in a gutter. Longuemare hides papers before a search; water and wind subsequently damage them.