The Devil in the Flesh

In this novel of desire, possession and perdition, an unnamed adolescent narrator meets the slightly older Marthe in Paris at the start of the First World War when her husband-to-be is away at the Front. The narrator is at a loose end—precocious and apathetic, he has given up school, and in the general chaos of wartime, no occupation has been found for him. At first out of boredom, he sets about gaining a hold on Marthe, but finds himself falling deeper in love.

They plunge into an affair, full of sensual pleasure and cruel power games. But as their ill-kept secret becomes widely known—and when Marthe falls pregnant—the consequences of their heedlessness begin to unfold. Freedom and passion are confronted by convention and martial honour, with tragic repercussions.

This scandalous, sexy novel rocketed its teenage author into overnight fame when it was published in the 1920s—and was all the more shocking because it was based on his own experiences during the war. Its incredible success and the flamboyant antics of its author foretold a brilliant career, but Radiguet died a few months after publication, aged only twenty.

The Devil in the Flesh remains a compelling exploration of youthful passion and societal constraints, capturing the imagination of readers even today.