The legend of the Holy Drinker

Joseph Roth

Pablo Auladell (Illustrations)

“So they bring our poor Andreas into the vestry, and unfortunately he’s no
longer capable of speech, all he can do is reach for the left inside pocket of his
jacket where he has the money he owes the little creditress, and he says:
‘Miss Thérèse!’ - and he sighs once, and he dies. May God grant us all, all of us drinkers, such a good and easy death!"

The Legend of the Holy Drinker, a novella by Joseph Roth, was published in 1939, shortly after the author’s death. It tells the story of Andreas Kartak, an alcoholic vagrant of Polish origin, who one day receives the generous gift of two hundred francs from a stranger. 



Upon Andreas’ refusal, the stranger insists, telling him that if he wants to return the money later on, he must offer it to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, whose statuette stands in the chapelof the Sainte Marie de Batignolles church. Andreas promises to keep his word, but his journey to the church is constantly diverted by old friends, unexpected encounters, and glasses of absinthe.

165 x 240 mm.; 72 pgs. Hardback with Jacket