Malpertuis
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Malpertuis (1943), a fantastique novel, the debut of Belgian writer Jean Ray. Its tone is oneiric and its suspense uncanny. The fantastic elements are based on Greek mythology and the destruction of time and space. In 1971 Harry Kümel adaptated the story for film, starring Orson Welles, Mathieu Carrière and Michel Bouquet. The score was by Georges Delerue.
It is divided into four narratives:
- The modern-day narrator (who remains unnamed) explains in a prologue that he stole the manuscripts that comprise the rest of the novel from the Convent of the White Penitents. In the epilogue, he locates Malpertuis, sees Eisengott and Old Mother Groulle in a tavern, enters the house, has a brief encounter with Euryale then flees.
- Doucedame the Elder's story of the capture of the Olympians; it has presumably been assembled by Doucedame the Younger.
- The diary of Jean-Jacques Grandsire (also broken into two parts) that ends when he and Bets leave Malpertuis.
- Father Euchere (aka Dom Misseron) of the Convent of the White Penitents, and reveals the final fates of both Jean-Jacques Grandsire and Doucedame the Younger.
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Adaptations
In 1971 the Belgian director Harry Kümel made a film adaptation of the novel, starring Orson Welles, Susan Hampshire and Mathieu Carrière.
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