Calvary by Octave Mirbeau is a semi-autobiographical novel that recounts the protagonist's psychological and emotional torment at the hands of an abusive and manipulative lover. Mirbeau, a French journalist and author, uses this narrative to critique bourgeois morality and the hypocrisies of conventional society. With raw emotion and philosophical insight, Calvary delves into themes of love, power, masochism, and spiritual disillusionment.