{"product_id":"the-atheists-mass-honore-de-balzac-9781162851730","title":"The Atheist's Mass","description":"The Atheist's Mass is a novella written by Honore de Balzac, a French author and playwright. The story revolves around the character of Desplein, a successful surgeon who is known for his atheism. Despite his lack of faith, Desplein is deeply moved by the beauty and complexity of the human body, and he often spends long hours studying the intricacies of anatomy.One day, Desplein attends a funeral mass for a colleague and is struck by the ritual and solemnity of the Catholic ceremony. Although he does not believe in God or the afterlife, he is moved by the sense of community and shared grief that the mass provides. Inspired by this experience, Desplein decides to hold a private mass of his own, not as a religious act, but as a way to honor the human body and the mysteries of life and death.As Desplein prepares for his mass, he reflects on his own life and the choices he has made. He realizes that his devotion to science and reason has left him feeling empty and disconnected from his fellow humans. Through the act of holding a mass, he hopes to reconnect with his own humanity and find a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in his life.The Atheist's Mass is a powerful exploration of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning in a world that can often seem cold and indifferent. Balzac's vivid prose and keen insights into human nature make this novella a timeless masterpiece of French literature.THIS 26 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Country Doctor; Quest of the Absolute and Other Novels, by Honore de Balzac. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766171175.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Honore De Balzac\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1162851732\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781162851730\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Kessinger Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/10\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 26\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.18lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 11.00h x 8.25w x 0.05d","brand":"Honore De Balzac","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48153490129151,"sku":"9781162851730","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_7845c6fb-0778-485c-a809-9fc5b786df43.jpg?v=1770783830","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-atheists-mass-honore-de-balzac-9781162851730","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}