The Fires of Autumn by Irene Nemirovsky

 This beautifully written book is the story of one man's degeneracy and malaise. A haunting and harrowing tale, it is just as good as Irene Nemirovsky's famous novel Suite Francaise, which I read a long time ago. This is the prequel to Suite Francaise.

Bernard, the anti-hero of the book, a likeable and ambitious young man goes off to war, excited and anxious to serve his country. However, he finds himself in a form of hell and determines that nothing matters, and he just wants a good time afterwards, but he is caught between Therese, the sweet and wise good girl, and Renee, rapacious and uncaring. He starts working for Renee's mendacious husband, entering a world of slick money, and Machievellian tactics, which ultimately lead him into disaster. Renee, who he takes as his mistress, has a huge hold on him. But Bernard has a good side, shown by his love for his wife Therese and his children...

This is a miserable, but profound book, suitable for our dark times. 

I read this for the The TBR 22 in '22 Challenge.