The History of a Mountain

Elisée, a broken and angry man sets off alone deep into the heart of the mountains…He goes there to either die or to find the energy to go on living. Each moment brings him closer to his own demise. From the first page of the book "History of a Mountain" by Élisée Reclus, published in 1880. "I was sad, dejected, weary of life. Fate had been harsh with me; it had taken away loved ones, ruined my plans, and shattered my hopes. All of humanity, with its conflicting interests and unleashed passions, had seemed hideous to me. I wanted to escape at all costs. Without really knowing where my steps were leading me, I left the noisy city and headed towards the great mountains whose jagged outline I could see on the horizon. I walked on, following back roads and stopping in the evenings at secluded inns. The sound of a human voice, the sound of footsteps, made me shudder; But, when I walked alone, I listened with melancholy pleasure to the birdsong, the murmur of the river, and the thousand sounds escaping from the great woods. For the first time in a long time, I experienced a surge of genuine joy.