Florian Zeller
Jun 13, 2009 18:54:38 GMT
Post by spindrift on Jun 13, 2009 18:54:38 GMT
At last I have made the acquaintance of Florian Zeller (b. 1979) French literary 'idol'; enfant terrible of the Left Bank who has written 4 novels and 3 plays.
At my library I picked up his book 'The Fascination of Evil' (La Fascination du Pire) and devoured it in an afternoon of addictive reading.
This book is said to deal with the decline of morals in both Islamic nations and the West.
The story begins with two French writers flying to Cairo to attend a bookfair; one, the narrator, is in a happy relationship with a girlfriend but the other is seeking the thrill of illicit paid-for sex, supposedly following in the footsteps of Flaubert who found sensual delights in Egypt. Much has changed since those days and now any sex, other than married sex, is illegal and even dangerous to pursue.
The story unfolds over the three days covering the bookfair. Hunting for prostitutes becomes an obsession and difficulties ensue. Gradually references to Islam are introduced and enlarged upon until finally, in the grand denouement, it becomes clear that the author's main preoccupation is the idea that Islam will eventually overtake the whole of Europe and those who can afford to leave will flee to the last bastion of 'freedom' - the United States.
I am now going to read two more of Mr Zeller's novels.
Here is his picture. He looks like my son.
At my library I picked up his book 'The Fascination of Evil' (La Fascination du Pire) and devoured it in an afternoon of addictive reading.
This book is said to deal with the decline of morals in both Islamic nations and the West.
The story begins with two French writers flying to Cairo to attend a bookfair; one, the narrator, is in a happy relationship with a girlfriend but the other is seeking the thrill of illicit paid-for sex, supposedly following in the footsteps of Flaubert who found sensual delights in Egypt. Much has changed since those days and now any sex, other than married sex, is illegal and even dangerous to pursue.
The story unfolds over the three days covering the bookfair. Hunting for prostitutes becomes an obsession and difficulties ensue. Gradually references to Islam are introduced and enlarged upon until finally, in the grand denouement, it becomes clear that the author's main preoccupation is the idea that Islam will eventually overtake the whole of Europe and those who can afford to leave will flee to the last bastion of 'freedom' - the United States.
I am now going to read two more of Mr Zeller's novels.
Here is his picture. He looks like my son.
