"Les Dieux ont soif" by Anatole France is a novel published in 1912. Set during the Reign of Terror in Revolutionary Paris, it follows Évariste Gamelin, a young painter who becomes a juror in the revolutionary tribunal. As daily executions accelerate, this idealistic Jacobin descends into fanatical cruelty, justifying bloodshed in the name of political ideals. His romance with Élodie contrasts sharply with his growing coldness as he condemns countless victims to the guillotine, ultimately becoming trapped in the same deadly machinery he helped operate.
Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Are_Athirst Wikipedia page about this book: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_dieux_ont_soif