To discuss Thomas Helder, her latest novel published by Actes Sud, Muriel Barbery was accompanied by Françoise Nyssen, the former director of the famous publishing house, on Saturday at the Les Volcans bookstore.
“I envy those who have not yet read Thomas Helder as it is a rare book, a book of life which has accompanied me since I finished it.” His words are those of Françoise Nyssen about Muriel Barbery’s latest novel.
“We emerge elevated from the simplicity and depth of this story, brought flawlessly and without ease, by a form of transcendence which allows us to live. » After four hours on the train spent together, the literary complicity of the two women just wants to continue on the patio of the Les Volcans bookstore. The audience, won over, attended with delight this literary encounter during which the novelist spoke at length about the influence that had on her People of Dublin by James Joyce. “In particular the latest news The Dead which fascinates me by the fact that an economy of means can cause a maximum explosion! I had for a long time in mind the project of copying this structure in a novel, by writing a long conversation, coupled with embryos of other conversations, which would condense the whole life and essence of the characters until the final revelation. »
The harsh beauty of Aubrac
For almost an hour, Muriel Barbery returned to places dear to her heart such as Amsterdam where she spent “three wonderful years on the city’s canals which changed my vision of existence”, the North Sea, Aubrac “a land of solitude, of spirit, with harsh, poetic, dry and grandiose beauty” and, of course, Japan where his last two books were set A single rose And An hour of fervor .
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