The Wicker Work Woman: A Chronicle of Our Own Times

"The Wicker Work Woman: A Chronicle of Our Own Times" by Anatole France is a late 19th century novel that starts by introducing M. Bergeret, a literature professor feeling down about his marriage and work while getting ready for his lesson on Virgil's "Æneid". Trapped in a dull life, he thinks about the beauty of the classics but is stuck with a sad reality and a wife that complicates his thoughts. He shows his dislike for war to his student, M. Roux. Facing societal pressures and his own unhappiness, the story's thoughtful tone is created by these reflections and social criticism.