Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos is the story of a young and inexperienced priest who goes to work as a member of the clergy in a small, rural community in France. The priest is ambitious and idealistic, but his plans are continually quashed by the local residents who mock him, misunderstand him, and ridicule his intentions. The priest is sick when he comes to the community, but despite his sickness and the ill treatment he suffers from his parishioners, he continues his work, though at times he struggles to maintain his faith in the Lord. When he becomes involved in a family scandal, life becomes more challenging for him, but his faith gets him through this difficult time. Finally, after living in the community as an outcast, he comes to terms with the events of his life and dies of stomach cancer.