Les Caves Du Vatican

''Les Caves du Vatican'' by André Gide is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores themes of morality, faith, and scientific inquiry through the eyes of its main character, Anthime Armand-Dubois, a franc-maçon and scientist who travels to Rome seeking treatment for his rheumatism, while also wrestling with questions of belief and doubt in a deeply religious society. At the start of the novel, we meet Anthime and his wife Véronique as they arrive in Rome. Their contrasting attitudes towards religion and science set the stage for a philosophical exploration. Véronique is pious and nurturing, hoping to bring her husband back to faith, while Anthime is entrenched in his atheistic beliefs and scientific pursuits. Their interactions reveal a tension within their marriage as well as a larger commentary on the conflict between modernity and tradition. The opening also introduces secondary characters, like the youthful Beppo, who brings a touch of innocence and curiosity to Anthime's dark experiments, hinting at the moral dilemmas that will unfold throughout the story.