Jean Teulé reconstructs each step of one of the most shameful stories in the history of nineteenth-century France in this 'engrossing book' [Kirkus Reviews]. 'Terrifyingly convincing’ Financial Times A true story. Tuesday 16 August 1870, Alain de Monéys, makes his way to the village fair. He plans to buy a heifer for a needy neighbour and find a roofer to repair the roof of the barn of a poor acquaintance. He arrives at two o’clock. Two hours later, the crowd has gone crazy; they have lynched, tortured, burned and eaten him. How could such a horror be possible? With frightening precision, Jean Teulé reconstructs each step of one of the most shameful stories in the history of nineteenth-century France.