"Putois," by Anatole France

"Putois" (1907) by Anatole France (born François-Anatole Thibault, 1844 – 1924) explores the whimsical and philosophical nature of an imaginary character named Putois. Despite his nonexistent physical presence, he becomes an integral part of the family lore for the Bergeret family.

The story unfolds primarily through a conversation between Monsieur Bergeret and his family, referencing Putois as a gardener conjured from a childhood need for explanation and connection to the world. Initially introduced as a sort of vagabond with a dubious reputation, the character of Putois shifts from a mere figment into a mythological figure whose attributes are recounted with both humor and depth.

Through their discussions, the characters reflect on the nature of existence, belief, and the impact of myth in everyday life. Throughout the narrative, Putois symbolizes the complexities of belief, illustrating how stories and imagination can shape perception and influence the behavior of individuals and communities. The overall tone is playful yet philosophical, examining themes of appearance versus reality and the shared nature of human belief.

“Putois” takes 20 to 25 minutes to read. The short story is available online from Project Gutenberg and The Literature Network. The Internet Archive has a downloadable *.pdf (”Putois” begins on page 51 [page 64 of the *.pdf]).

Amazon has a free “public domain” Kindle version on their site. It is also available from Wikisource.

YouTube has a brief [3:05] audio overview of Anatole France (and at 2:18, an extremely brief audio sample of the very beginning of “Putois”).

Enotes describes the narrative’s themes and analyzes the story’s style and technique.

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