A King Alone

A King Alone (Un roi sans divertissement, 1947) by Jean Giono is set in a remote Alpine village in the mid-nineteenth century. The community’s quiet life is shattered by a series of mysterious disappearances and murders. A young officer, Captain Langlois, is sent to investigate. Calm, charismatic, and respected by the villagers, he gradually becomes central to their lives. Yet as the story unfolds, the line between investigator and culprit blurs, revealing that violence and enigma do not come only from outside, but also lie deep within human nature.
It is a dark, haunting novel that blends mystery with a profound reflection on solitude, evil, and the fragility of the human condition.