At the Sign of the Reine Pedauque by Anatole France (1893)

This vigorous piece is France emulating the general mood of literature in the late nineteenth century in his country, albeit with his own swing on it. This is the story of an innocent, Jacques Menetrier, aka Jacques Tournebroche, and his emergence into a world of warring philosophies and approaches to life. A Capuchin monk's angle is disposed of in favour of a wandering Abbe's teachings. A young viol-player in whom he's interested is revealed as a little too free with her favours, and replaced by Catherine, a lace-maker, and then Jael, a young Jewess, all of whom are eventually revealed as unreliable. At the same time Monsieur d'Astarac arrives on the scene. Jacques and his Abbe are hired to translate arcane texts for him, and France's greatest satiric target is introduced. Astarac is the alchemist, sequestered away in an old chateau, mixing elements according to old recipes, and associating with Sylphs and Salamanders for love, at least in his own mind. He tries to encourage Jacques on the same path. What emerges as one reads is that the philosophies at war are not all equal in France's mind. His Abbe Coignard, Jacques' second teacher, a roisterer, fighter on street corners, wine-thief and probable alcoholic, is very clearly approved. The lack of balance in this harms this one for me - it could have been great, if Jacques had been able to see through them all, and find his own way. As it stands, highly doubtful Coignard is highly dubious hero.