Written by Nassuf Djailani et Frédéric Cano
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He is 92 years old, a hell of a fish and he has boarded the writers' train to join Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze) and its 42nd edition of the book fair. His name is Joseph Fournel, this is his third participation in this major literary event in Corrèze. We met the writer, who is also a painter and former fashion designer, at his home in Paris.
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« This is it, this is my office. This is me when I was thirty. I'm still not bad ! », says Joseph Farnel as if in a touch of humor in the corridor which leads to his office in his Parisian apartment.
At 92 years old, Joseph Farnel is a passionate author. In the twilight of his life, his desire to write remains intact and overflowing. Behind his large desk, in front of a typescript that he carefully covers in a green folder, he explains that he has “a book which will be published in March. A thriller. There, I'm preparing the next one, I've already worked quite a bit ! »
When we ask him what his next project will be about, with the back of his hand, he cuts it short : « No way, I don't want it to be stolen from me ! »
The Corrèze writer, Joseph Farnel, is in a hurry to meet his readers in Brive.
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© Rémi Carton / France Télévisions
Author of around forty books, Joseph Farnel, discovered writing in Corrèze, when he was a student at Cabanis college in Brive.
Joseph Farnel, writer is also a painter.
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© Rémi Carton / France Télévisions
« I wrote my first book at 11 years old… It was supposed to be two to three pages long, it was a detective story, but I lost it ! I regret, because I have always loved writing », says the nostalgic writer.
This adopted Corrézien has had several lives. A fashion designer and stylist, he worked with Channel and Dior in his youth. Author of novels, he has another passion : painting. « It's like when a writer writes, he puts colors on his manuscript. Each word is a color. It may be a little stupid what I say, but I assume ».
These paintings evoke his childhood and this dark period of his existence when his family hid in Yssandon, near Brive to escape the Nazis.
In front of his paintings in his living room, Joseph says “ here is the hidden child ! » by showing one of his paintings. Before continuing: “ He's waiting for his parents, but his parents won't come! They were rounded up ! When I see this, it tortures me ! », Confides the man with emotion.
Later, at the Austerlitz station, Joseph Farnel, aided by his cane, advances with a resolute step. He pulls a light suitcase as his train approaches. He returns to Corréze every year. Curiously, he only participated in three editions of the Brive Book Fair. He will be the dean of the salon's writers. Before boarding, he brandished a hand, doubled with a “ health ! See you soon… In Brive », he takes the trouble to clarify with a hollow laugh.
The writer is in a hurry to speak to his readers, this Saturday November 9 and Sunday November 10 in the Georges Brassens hall.
