In the Lamplight

In the Lamplight

In the Lamplight reawakens the voice of Félix Le Molt, the author's great-grandfather, through the rediscovery of his book of poems La Vie qui passe written one hundred years ago. The poet lived in an era of French history referred to as La Belle Époque, a fascinating time of great artistic and technological achievement, social and cultural change, and political turmoil. Importantly, its promise, potential, and perils are a reflection of our own era and can serve as both guide and warning. How we understand our past determines our future.

Published in 1922, La Vie qui passe consists of 84 poems that capture and preserve Félix Le Molt's thoughts on nature, religion, society, the law (he was a judge), family, and the passage of time. François Mauriac, a family friend and the 1952 Nobel Prize laureate in literature, provided a letter of introduction. This translation of his poetry affords the opportunity to examine the historical context of his life and times and offers an interpretation of his character, influences, and philosophy of life. His poetry gives us a valuable, relevant perspective on how to live.

In the Lamplight, inspired by the poetry in La Vie qui passe is a collection of essays, poems, and personal meditations woven together to create a philosophical, historical, cultural, and familial journey.