The Revolt of the Angels · Character

Maurice d'Esparvieu

A wealthy young Parisian whose comfortable faith is shattered when his own guardian angel announces he's joining a celestial rebellion.

major

Also known as Maurice, young Maurice, Monsieur Maurice, Young d'Esparvieu, Monsieur Maurice d'Esparvieu, young Maurice d'Esparvieu

First appearance: I

As a major figure in The Revolt of the Angels, Maurice d'Esparvieu is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

René's elder son, a young barrister of lukewarm faith, moderate zeal, and a warm heart hidden beneath a conventional exterior.

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Maurice d'Esparvieu is a well-off young man of fashionable Paris, living on family money and entangled with a married woman, Madame des Aubels. When his guardian angel Arcade abruptly renounces Heaven and walks out, Maurice is left genuinely frightened — not of damnation so much as of facing life without the spiritual support he'd always assumed was there. His helpless, half-comic attempts to reason with Arcade and his alarm at the angel's blasphemous reading matter anchor the novel's opening and give the cosmic revolt its first human witness.

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Character Web

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Protagonist
Rebellious Angels and Mortals
Artists and Servants

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story’s dramatic climax because Arcade, the angel who rebelled to bring enlightenment, abandons hi…

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In the story

Maurice d'Esparvieu appears across 22 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
II
III
IV
V
Wherein Père Sariette discovers his missing treasures
VII
VIII
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I
René's elder son, a young barrister of lukewarm faith, moderate zeal, and a warm heart hidden beneath a conventional exterior.
II
Mentioned as the young pupil to whom Sariette became tutor in 1895.
III
Mentioned as a possible suspect due to his anti-Semitic views, though unlikely to have moved the books.
IV
His revolver is borrowed by Sariette for the night vigil.
V
Yawns and expresses preference for Matisse and Metzinger, then inwardly schemes to get money from his mother.
Wherein Père Sariette discovers his missing treasures
Informs Sariette about the books in his garden-house, leading to the recovery of the missing items.
VII
Young Maurice, who threatens to leave home due to the surveillance and later hears a mysterious voice in the summerhouse.
VIII
Feels a void in his heart; pursues Gilberte des Aubels; arranges a secret meeting and kisses her in the library.
IX
Awaiting Gilberte in his flat, wearing flowered pyjamas; feels constancy and fidelity toward her, but is careful with money.
The Angel's Confession
Listens to Arcade's confession, expresses disbelief and mocks the idea of rebellion, but is gradually drawn into the conversation.
XI
Maurice procures clothes for Arcade and confronts the loss of his guardian angel.
Chapter XV
Bewildered and lonely after Arcade's departure, he seeks Abbé Patouille's help and places a newspaper ad to find his angel.
XVI
Desperate to find his angel, he consults Madame Mira and retrieves the Lucretius talisman.
Chapter XXIII
Visits Bouchotte as a messenger for Madame de la Verdelière and becomes intimate with her.
XXV
Finds Arcade again, expresses his need for him, and offers to be his guardian angel.
XXVII
Jealous of Arcade's relationship with Bouchotte, argues about religion and morality, and helps Arcade evade police surveillance.
Chapter XXVIII
Confronted by his parents for his relationship with Bouchotte and his forged signatures; responds with insolence and exposes family secrets.
Chapter XXIX
Discovers Gilberte and Arcade together, becomes furious, challenges Arcade to a duel, then wanders the streets in despair.
The Wounded Angel and the Skeptical World
Wounded from a duel, reconciled with Arcade and Gilberte, expresses contentment.
XXXII
Convalescing from his wound; mocks Abbé Patouille by claiming his guardian angel has forgotten his catechism; accompanies Arcade and Zita to Clodomir's.
XXXIII
Fences left-handed with the Japanese angel, fires his revolver and kills Inspector Grolle, then expresses guilt and blames Arcade for leading him astray.
XXXIV
Experiences relief and then despair; arrested and later released; weeps as Arcade departs.

Chapter companion notes

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