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L'Ensorcelee

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This 19 century French author has been unjustly forgotten. At least two of his books should belong to the Western canon: "L'ensorcelée" and "Les diaboliques".

"L'ensorcelée", or "The bewitched", tells the story of the Abbe Croix-Jugan, a bad man who was forced by his family to become a priest. What he really likes, though, is political intrigue. Being a brave fellow, he fights with the "chouans", royalist guerrillas sponsored by aristocrats, intent on deposing the post-Revolutionary governments of France. When he sees his cause is lost, he shots himself in the face, but is rescued by a peasant family. When he recovers, the Church sends him to the almost desert and remote swamps in Northern France. There, he goes on with his political conspiracies, using as a messenger a young noble lady, Jeanne, who is impressed and almost in love with him, despite his being a deformed man (physically and spiritually). What follows is an amazing tale of horror, violence, and ghosts. The environment is superb, perfect for this kind of story, and the ending is just marvelous. If you happen to come across this book, read it. It's good.