A story with no plot or characters, but rather a description of an autumn evening in late nineteenth century Paris. Written by an author who enjoyed writing about the past in his stories. An idler having bought a book from a bookstall by the River Seine, rests awhile at a café with a drink and observes the sunset, whilst noticing that the evening throng of commuters engaged in their own conversations passing by, are not.
“A level light, warm and blazing, raked the scene, making long-drawn shadows on the ground, dazzling the passers till they blinked their eyes, and sparkling on the polished leather of the carriages and the sleek haunches of the horses. Nature, the greatest of artists and the most prodigal of effects, was exhibiting art for art’s sake that evening; she had been careful over that sunset; and our idler,whom chance had brought to look upon the scene, was suddenly carried away with delirious rapture at the calm and radiant splendour that transfigured houses, trees and sky.”
Fortunately, there is a wide variety of short stories to choose from. So it is possible to read a story to match whatever mood a reader might be in. Sometimes I want to read an undemanding atmospheric story and just wallow in comforting prose.
First published in Short Stories v64 #3, December 1906, Doubleday, Page & Co. Collected in Stories by Daudet & Coppée, ed. Arthur Ransome, T.C. & E.C. Jack, 1910
A Personal Anthology 