The Vatican Cellars (Editions Gallic) - Softcover

An expertly constructed network of coincidence and error, shot through with a level of dramatic irony not present in the work for which Gide is most renowned. --The Irish Times

Gide's subtle, snarky humor had me very entertained, even though many of the characters do completely depraved things. I understand why Gide was such a controversial author in his time. -- A Bookish Type

Quite brilliantly blackly comic. --Winston's Dad's blog

The Vatican Cellars is an entertaining, easy read and can be intellectually stimulating if you are interested to analyse it further. --Word by Word

Set in the 1890s, Andre Gide's famous satire centres around a group of ingenious fraudsters ('The Millipede') who convince their wealthy victims that the pontiff has been imprisoned in the Vatican cellars, and a false Pope has been enthroned in his place. Posing as clergy, they con money by promising to obtain the true Pope's release and restoration. The book features one of Gide's most memorable creations: the amoral Lafcadio, who in pushing a man from a moving train commits the ultimate motiveless crime. Unavailable in the UK for 25 years, this scandalous, funny and highly original novel has been re-translated to mark the centenary of its publication. Supported by English PEN.