Woman of the Pharisees

In this novel, published in 1941, François Mauriac offers a precise portrait of the life of a traditional French family at the beginning of the twentieth century, through the character of Brigitte Pian, the stern wife who sees in religion and discipline a way to raise those around her and protect them from deviation. The novel is narrated by Louis, the stepson, who recalls the events of his youth and what he saw of this woman's influence on the family and the environment in which he lived. The tale unfolds through family and social situations that reveal the effect of a strict upbringing on children and relatives, and highlights the contrast between Brigitte's view, which makes discipline its aim, and other voices in the novel that see mercy and gentleness as the path closest to hearts. In this contradiction the drama of the novel takes shape, as the narrator learns how to balance obedience and freedom, duty and human feeling. Woman of the Pharisees is not merely a novel about an old French household, but a text that reflects on the effect of religious and social values when applied with severity or with gentleness, and on the way upbringing leaves its mark on generations. With this simplicity and depth at once, Mauriac paints a portrait of family, faith, and the inner conflict that every person lives as he searches for his path in life.