Un voyage au Mont Athos

by François Augiéras

This haunting book represents a journey of self-discovery for both author and reader. It is perhaps best described as a Buddhist Pilgram's Progress, with the protagonist's wanderings mirroring his journey towards spiritual enlightenment. Augieras himself spoke of a Journey to Mount Athos as 'a sojourn in the land of Spirits, according to the strictest Buddhist Orthodoxy' inspired by the time he spent with monks on Mount Athos, the 'Holy Mountain'.

Genres: Fiction, French Literature, France

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

François Augiéras was a French writer and painter. Born in Rochester, New York, two months after his father's death, he moved to France (Paris and later Dordogne) with his mother. At the age of fourteen, he left home and started on a nomadic life. In 1944, he joined the French Navy. He spent some time in a psychiatric asylum and in a monastery. He later moved to El Goléa, where his uncle lived. His first novel, Le Vieillard et l'enfant, was favorably received by André Gide.

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Francois Augieras through Robert Aldrich's excellent 'Colonialism and Homosexuality' were Augieras' early, and controversial, novel 'Une Adolescence au Temps du Marchal' was discussed in connection with France and Algeria. At the time, circa 2008, neither this nor any other of Augieras's writings were translated, so when Pushkin Press published this and two of his other novels (The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Journey of the Dead) in translation I was delighted and set about acquiring all three. What I didn't know, and none of the supporting material made clear, was that Augieras saw the three books as a linked narrative or at least a complementary one leading from Sorcerer through the Journey of the Dead to a conclusion with Mt Athos. That he saw them as linked is made clear in the closing pages of A Journey to Mt Athos and becomes even more clear when you know it was his last work before dying at a 45.

All this is a preamble to saying that while I have read and think the book a masterpiece I want to withhold my review until I have read the preceding two volumes, when I will add further comments to this review.

[Plumb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. I was charmed, to begin with, and excited for the journey, but then that wore off and it began to feel repetitious and sloppy in some ways, and my expectations were disappointed at a number of turns. For me the section from part 2 in the caves was masterful, and it was that section that was that deep mix of mystic ecstasy and madness, mixed with the sumptuous descriptions of nature that Augerias excels at, that I was really looking for. I enjoyed the book, very much, but it just wasn't as tight as I wanted. The very beginning, and elements of part 2, are what will stay with me, I think, and for those sections this book is 5/5 amazing, but as I said, it lost me in other parts.

I wish I could get my hands on more works by this author, but as far as I can tell they either aren't yet translated or are hard to get.

[Hermes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nietzsche and the Vicious Circle in the Greek wilderness, with old monks trying to have their way with you.

(Similar themes to The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but more drawn out.)

[Gabunie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ja nawet nie wiem co przeczytałam. Ciekawe spostrzeżenia na temat zaświatów, ale ciężko mi zrozumieć powiązania prawosławia z główną postacią i autorem, może muszę się doedukować.

[EC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much weird, unbelievable gay sex with Holy Orthodox clergy. I don't believe half of this crap. But I will say his descriptions of his adventures and his recollections of the landscape and various monasteries is lovely reading.