Hugo Boris, writing courage

Audio 29:00

French writer Hugo Boris in studio at RFI (February 2020). © RFI / Fanny Renard

By: Catherine Fruchon-Toussaint

Hugo Boris is the author of five highly acclaimed and numerous award-winning novels, including “Police” (2016) translated into three languages, planned for theaters in April 2020 (directed by Anne Fontaine, with Omar Sy and Virginie Efira). His new book, an intimate story, is called "The Courage of Others" (Grasset).

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Cover of Hugo Boris' new book © Grasset

"Hugo Boris has just put on his black karate belt when he faces an altercation in the RER. Flabbergasted, unable to intervene, he is content to sound the alarm. The episode reveals a deep fear, mixture of helplessness and timidity on a daily basis. Whether it is a personal character or a universal difficulty in confronting the other in society ? This lack of courage obsesses him. His wife suggests that he "get his mouth shut once and for all" to exorcise.
But Hugo Boris is a writer, so for fifteen years he documents these dread situations in public transport. He also paints the delight of a meeting, the humanity of a dialogue, the humor of an unexpected exchange. Through these happy or tragic miscellanea, he deciphers a contemporary mythology, that of the metro and the RER, and seeks to apprehend his fears, to master it by distance, literature or ... reading Dragon Magazine!
He also tries to ward off his fear by watching the courage of others in all its forms, deeply admiring all those who manage to intervene when a situation challenges them, solicits them, requires a voice, a gesture. He draws a tribute to all those he saw having, under his eyes, the notch that he lacked. And wonders if courage is contagious.
Completely original, sincere, with topicality, remarkable writing precision and observation, this collection of short texts is very accurate. By laying bare, Hugo Boris talks about each of us, our cowardice and our daily discomforts, our dazzle and, sometimes, our heroism. " (Presentation of Grasset editions)

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Literature: Hugo Boris, author of "Police"