Pure

"Deep in the heart of Paris, its oldest cemetery is, by 1785, overflowing, tainting the very breath of those who live nearby. Into their midst comes Jean-Baptiste Baratte, a young, provincial engineer charged by the king with demolishing it. At first Baratte sees this as a chance to clear the burden of history, a fitting task for a modern man of reason. But before long, he begins to suspect that the destruction of the cemetery might be a prelude to his own. " © Goodreads Costa Book Award for Novel (2011), Walter Scott Prize Nominee (2012), Costa Book of the Year (2011), Dublin Literary Award Nominee for Shortlist (2013)

Story added by rachani on February 8, 2026