Le Fauteuil Hanté

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the mysterious events following the deaths of two prominent figures at the Académie française, where a supposed cursed chair previously occupied by a revered member is said to bring misfortune to its successors. The central character, M. Gaspard Lalouette, is drawn into this unfolding mystery as he seeks to understand the strange circumstances around these deaths and the ominous whispers surrounding the infamous fauteuil. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to M. Gaspard Lalouette, a dealer in paintings and antiques, who finds himself in a lively scene as he hears discussions about a brave man, Maxime d'Aulnay, who is about to give an important speech at the Académie. As various groups of people express their anxieties over both His speech and the ominous atmosphere, Lalouette becomes increasingly curious about the circumstances surrounding d'Aulnay's situation. Tension builds as reports of a ghostly curse afflicting the chair he will occupy emerge, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of fear, superstition, and the unknown in the face of scholarly tradition.