From the book
The Gods Are Athirst
Anatole France · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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Related words and phrases.
Coing is quince; gelée here is fruit jelly, and cassonade is brown sugar. Élodie and Madame Gamelin prepare winter preserves while balancing fuel and sugar against quality. The fruit is not merely a symbolic still life: peeling, quartering and sticky fingers make the work concrete. Its projected future of feeding Gamelin is interrupted by his jealous questions.
Places to read
- Chapter XVI, paragraph 5Frenchfaire de la confiture de coings: make quince preserves. Domestic cooperation offers food for the coming winter.
- Chapter XVI, paragraph 7Frenchune délicieuse gelée de coings: delicious quince jelly. Élodie presents the food as future care for Gamelin.