This book by the brilliant English writer Aldous Huxley (1894−1963), widely known in our country for his novels («Yellow Crome», «Counterpoint», «Jester’s Roundelay», «Brave New World») and books about mysticism («Perennial Philosophy», «The Doors of Perception»), translated into Russian for the first time, combines the virtues of Huxley-novelist and Huxley-thinker.
It is a reflection on the fate of Cardinal Richelieu’s aide, Friar Joseph, who played a key role in European politics during the Thirty Years’ War. Politics and mysticism; personal piety and political ruthlessness; lofty ends and cruel means — these are the central themes of this book, addressed to all who reflect on European history, on the relationship between morality and politics, and on the compatibility of personal morality and state interests.