Brelan Marin

''Brelan marin'' by Eugène Montfort is a collection of stories written in the early 20th century. The book explores themes of life, death, and the macabre, primarily through settings in places like Palermo and Barcelona. The narratives delve into the psychological experiences of characters in confrontations with mortality, touching upon existential reflections. In the opening story, ''Le Revenant des Cappuccini,'' the protagonist, while living in Palermo, finds himself haunted by a visit to the Capuchin catacombs, where he encounters the skeleton of a young man named Pietro Catala. This experience triggers a deep sense of dread that permeates his everyday life. Throughout the tale, he undergoes unsettling phenomena that blur the lines between reality and hallucination, culminating in a terrifying vision that forces him to flee Palermo. The second story, ''La Soirée perdue,'' follows two travelers in Barcelona who fall under the charm of young performers in a cafe-concert, leading to a humorous and revealing exploration of social interactions and the expectations placed upon them. Finally, ''Mon ami de Guernesey'' recounts an encounter with a gregarious English baker, illustrating the fragility of trust and the absurdities of life. Together, these tales navigate complex emotions, chiefly surrounding human connections and the specter of mortality.