Les mouches bleues by Jean-Michel Riou (Plon editions) is one of the five works competing for the second edition of the Europe 1-GMF Literary Prize which will take place on May 20.
Our literary journalist Nicolas Carreau explains why you should read it.
It's a book that starts from a poll that dates from April 2019. A terrifying poll.
"Hang in there
," warns Nicolas Carreau.
This is the highlight of the book. 41% of the American population are unaware of what happened at Auschwitz. And among 18-34 year olds, it goes up to 66% !! "
And then the novel begins. In a train. Tight men, in a foul stench, who have no idea where they are going. You have already understood that they are leaving for the camps.
The blue flies of the title are the Nazis, the SS, who love the taste of death, like scavenging insects. The novel is inspired by the true story of Aleksander Kuliseiwic, deported, at age 21, to the Sachsenhausen camp. And in this hell, he finds a way to make music and listen to other people's music. He will survive precisely thanks to music and his fellow prisoners. Journalist and musician, Aleksander is arrested after publishing a pamphlet against Hitler.
In the camp, he resists by writing songs about his living conditions.
And sometimes interpret them!
The others also sing and entrust their song to Aleksander.
Hypermnesic, he is responsible for retaining them all.
What he will do.
He will write and play on stage after all that, the music of the camps.
So as not to forget anything.
"A novel about solidarity and the emergence of beauty in the worst of situations."
EVENT
Europe 1 is proud to launch the 2nd edition of its literary prize, in partnership with GMF, which recognizes stories of collective commitment. The jury, made up of personalities but also listeners from Europe 1, will award the Europe 1-GMF Literary Prize to the winner during an exceptional ceremony at the Bellemare studio, at Europe 1, on May 20. Nicolas Carreau, literary specialist in Europe 1, who can be found every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in The voice is book, is the sponsor of this Literary Prize Europe1-GMF. This award was born from a meeting between GMF and Europe 1 around common values and the desire to highlight those who work to make society more human, and those who have made it their vocation.