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| Author | Paul Bourget |
|---|---|
| Language | French |
| Genre | Thesis novel |
| Published | 1889 |
| Publisher | Lemerre |
| Publication place | France |
| Pages | 359 |
| Preceded by | Mensonges (1887) |
| Followed by | Un cœur de femme (1890) |
Le Disciple (lit. 'the disciple') is a novel by Paul Bourget (1852–1935), published in 1889. It was written between September 1888 and May 1889 and serves as an analysis and educational tool for the new generations. Bourget's work is also a thesis novel, as the author criticizes the role of intellectuals and accuses modern science of replacing religion without offering a moral compass.
As a pivotal work in Bourget's literary career, the novel marks the transition from his focus on psychological analysis and social manners to a more moralistic and Catholic-themed approach. Beginning with Le Disciple in 1889, Paul Bourget's exploration of faith ultimately led to his conversion in 1901.
By engaging in dual novel forms – the analytical and the thesis – Bourget produced a "hybrid" novel with Le Disciple.[a] It also signified a significant shift in the emotional and social life of the novelist: During this period, he gets married and distances himself from his friends (such as Louis Cahen d'Anvers), and his social circle.
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