'The Gods Will Have Blood' distinguishes itself from other novels of French Revolution I've read by its fantastic level of cynicism. France's writing reveals the bitter ironies of the Terror, marshalling a fascinating cast of characters. At the centre of the narrative is Gamelin, an idealistic young artist who lives in an attic with his mother. He becomes part of the Revolutionary Tribunal and, as he sees it, fights to preserve the Revolution by sending traitors to their death. The major figures of the time, notably Robespierre, cast a strong shadow over the book, but rarely intrude directly. Indeed, it is often demonstrated that characters are concerned with the daily matter of earning a living or seducing a conquest, not politics. The closeness and contrast between mundane life and sudden, shocking condemnation to death is repeatedly, powerfully demonstrated. The arbitrary nature of Terror is a major theme.

I feel compelled to compare this novel with 'Les Misérables', which is deeply idealistic and in places idealises the sacrifice of life for abstract principles. (Naturally it bears noting that events in Les Mis begin more than twenty years after the Terror, which took place from 1793-4.) Although this is something of an overgeneralisation, Hugo tends to characterise social problems as institutional, requiring reform of structures. France appears uninterested in such analysis, rather he dwells on the personal level of struggle to survive. The characters in 'The Gods Have Blood' seem less aware of the institutions binding their actions than those of 'Les Mis'. On the other hand, France's characters are more human and less absolute. Their morals are definitely looser, too, which both rings true and adds piquancy. I loved the female characters energy and lack of tedious saintliness.

Many small moments in 'The Gods Will Have Blood' stand out as striking. Julie's fondness for dressing up in men's clothing. The artists' gallivant out to the countryside, seemingly idyllic until one member of the party jokingly calls the other by the name of a recently disgraced politician. The angry tirades of Athénaïs the baby-faced prostitute. The death of Citizen Trubert, who absent-mindedly said he was very well whilst coughing up blood. The prisoners playing at 'Revolutionary Tribunal', not only rehearsing their likely fate on Earth but also their punishments in Hell.

My favourite moment, though, is probably when the atheist epicurean Brotteaux invites a homeless priest to stay with him. Brotteaux refuses the priest's thanks, protesting that his kindness stems from, 'that egotism which inspires all men's acts of generosity and self-sacrifice' and also because, 'I've nothing better to do'. The friendly discussion between the two apparent philosophical opposites is fascinating. There and elsewhere, France rather subversively presents a determinedly cynical man who believes in nothing as seemingly the wisest character in the book. This is very interesting contrast to Hugo, whose avowedly cynical character Grantaire is described as a weak drunkard, who only achieves greatness by embracing death for an ideal (love, if not liberty). Whilst Brotteaux by no means benefits from his clear-eyed view of the Terror, France definitely paints him as admirable. He and Gamelin are contrasted powerfully by way of their thoughts and actions, although their eventual fates are identical.

I think that France has captured a perspective on the final phase of the French Revolution that I've not read before. 'The Gods Will Have Blood' is a brilliantly written novel, although the introduction claims it loses quite a bit in translation. I might try and get hold of a copy in French. For quite a short book, it feels very substantial. It'll stay in my mind, of that I'm sure. ( )

2.5 stars
France writes about Paris in the time of the revolution, 1792-5. Gamelin is a starving artist trying to support himself and his mother when a bourgeois woman calls in a favor and has him made a magistrate. She is thinking he will defend her if she is turned in for speculation. In those days, everyone was turning in everyone else for any little thing: being atheist, being an emigre, writing letters to England, to Spain, oh, just about anything could get your head chopped off. We'll, turns out she's wrong: Gamelin takes to his job like a fish to water, and soon convicts everyone who comes up before him and his fellow jurists. His thirst for blood has overtaken him and destroyed his once innocent life. ( )

Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Novel highlighting the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. Recalling slightly with the help of online reviews, but doesn't standout as particularly memorable." ( )

"I am steeped in blood so that you may be happy"
By sally tarbox on 19 Sept. 2013
Format: Paperback
Chilling tale of one Evariste Gamelin, a poor artist in revolutionary Paris. On the one hand he shows humanity: caring for his old mother, willing to give up his bread allowance to a starving woman, and jealously devoted to the lovely Elodie.
But his blind following of the Republic soon becomes apparent:
'We must put our trust in Robespierre; he is incorruptible. Above all we must trust in Marat. He is the one who really loves the people...he's not only incorruptible; he is without fear. He alone is capable of saving the Republic in its peril.'
Against this dangerously naive youth, we meet his older neighbour, Brotteaux, a former aristocrat, now living in a garret and making puppets - but, despite his atheism, a good natured man, willing to risk his life for others.
As Evariste rises up the ladder he becomes a magistrate, with power over the lives of many, even people well known to him...

Although written a hundred years ago, and set 250 years back, this is very much a relevant work; Gamelin made me think of Nazis who were reportedly kind fathers; of radicalized Muslim youths who had once been loving sons. As he tells Elodie:
'Scoundrels who betray their fatherland are multiplying unceasingly...And when we have sacrificed them on the altar of the fatherland, more of them appear, and more and more...So you must see there is no other course for me but to renounce love, joy, all the sweetness of life, even life itself.'
The crazy world where months are re-named and dancing dolls declared anti-revolutionary (putting their seller's life at risk) is very similar to what we see in some extremist lands today.
And it massively informed me about the Revolution, which we tend to portray simply as starving peasants rightfully rising up against a corrupt royal family. The different factions and the changes of direction under the Terror, when even the leaders weren't safe is all brought out. (Although I would encourage the reader to familiarise themselves with basic facts about the Revolution before reading - I got rather confused at times.) ( )

Story of the descent into the darkness of The Terror. Nice easy short read, with a history lesson thrown in. Well worth the effort. ( )