Christian Bobin is one of the most prolific and best-selling inspirational writers in France. His ‘lyric essays’, neither prose nor poetry, utilise a limited vocabulary manipulated with the precision of a watchmaker. Bobin often obtains his effects through startling juxtapositions of the ordinary, aimed straight at the heart and not without the intention of drawing blood.

Prevalent themes in his work include the natural world, the perspectives of the very old and the very young, and the distilled wisdom of his contemplative Catholic faith. A lifelong sufferer from ‘persuasive melancholy’, Bobin mines the narrow seam of joy and wonder in the dank rock face of depression, and writing has been the tool he has employed to chip it out.

The Eighth Day comprises – in an original English translation – a superb collection of Bobin’s writings from the last 30 years. A guaranteed best-selling author in France – his books can sell up to 200,000 copies per edition – he is an inspirational writer yet to be discovered in the English-speaking world.

This anthology is designed to introduce him to a new readership, and includes fresh introductions to each chapter by translator and compiler Pauline Matarasso.