In 2022, François, a middle-aged literature professor at
Paris III and specialist in
Huysmans, feels he is at the end of his sentimental and sexual lives – composed largely of year-long liaisons with his students. It has been years since the last time he created any valuable university work. France is in the grip of
political crisis – in order to stave off a
National Front victory, the Socialists ally with the newly formed Muslim Brotherhood Party, with additional support of the
Union for a Popular Movement, formerly the main right-wing party. They propose the charming and physically imposing Islamic candidate Mohammed Ben-Abbes for the presidency against the National Front leader
Marine Le Pen. In despair at the emerging political situation, and the inevitability of
antisemitism becoming a major force in French politics, François' young and attractive
Jewish girlfriend, Myriam, emigrates to
Israel. His mother and father die. He fears that he is heading towards suicide, and takes refuge at a monastery situated in the town of
Martel. The monastery is an important symbol of
Charles Martel's victory over Islamic forces in 732; it is also where his literary hero, Huysmans, became a lay member.
Ben-Abbes wins the election, and becomes
President of France. He pacifies the country and enacts sweeping changes to French laws,
privatizing the
Sorbonne, thereby making François redundant with full pension as only Muslims are now allowed to teach there. He also ends
gender equality, allowing
polygamy. Several of François' intellectually-inferior colleagues, having converted to Islam, get good jobs and make
arranged marriages with attractive young wives. The new president campaigns to
enlarge the European Union to include
North Africa, with the aim of making it a new
Roman Empire, with France at its lead. In this new, different society, with the support of the powerful politician Robert Rediger, the novel ends with François poised to convert to Islam and the prospect of a second, better life, with a prestigious job,
and wives chosen for him.