Vipers' Tangle begins as a man's letter to his estranged wife, explaining his hatred for her and their children, and is transformed under Mauriac's masterful pen into a diary of spiritual and psychological battles against God, family, and self. With remarkable subtlety and sensitivity, Mauriac relates the transformation of Monsieur Louis by the sublime workings of grace. Vipers' Tangle's superb arc and unflinching examination of the human heart makes it easily one of the greatest novels--Catholic or otherwise--of all time.

This edition of Vipers' Tangle features an insightful Introduction and detailed Notes from Timothy P. O'Malley that together serve to deepen one's appreciation of Mauriac's masterpiece.