Abstract
One of the most famous novels by French author Jean Giono, Un roi sans divertissement (lit. "a king without distraction"), published in English as A King Alone, was written in 1946. It is an ambitious literary experiment, in which the author combines the detective genre with a philosophical treatise and captivating descriptions of virgin nature.
The poetic images show not only the rugged mountain landscape but also human cruelty: even death can be beautiful and fascinating when observed from a distance, where red blood contrasts with white snow. It was the first book by Giono published after World War II and it marks the beginning of a new phase in the author's oeuvre.