Dans l'épaisseur de la chair by Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès (review)

This novel is something of an epic about French colonial history in the twentieth century. We are told of the life of Dr. Manuel Cortès as remembered by his son. Manuel, who is still living at the time of the narration, was an Algerian pied-noir. His parents were immigrants to Algeria from Spain who set up a small business running a café. Manuel was able to pursue his education, becoming a medic during World War II and then a full-fledged surgeon after the war. The novel covers a long time span, but the most crucial events are Manuel's experiences during the war and the long, bitter struggle for Algerian independence that followed. The work becomes a stinging indictment of the inhumanities that people inflict upon one another. Manuel serves in a Free French military unit whose members are from France's colonies in Africa. We follow their progress up the Italian peninsula and then into France as they drive out the Germans. The narrative dwells on the atrocities committed by both sides, against each other and against the civilian populations. Rape and pillage are the order of the day in an atmosphere of universal bestiality. After France is liberated, it repays the native African soldiers who sacrificed themselves on her behalf with the basest ingratitude, which helps inspire Algeria's war of independence. The author makes it clear that frightening acts of cruelty were perpetrated by both the rebels and the French authorities. Many French people in Algeria voted for De Gaulle in 1958 in the hopes he would settle the conflict. He did so in a way that they considered a betrayal by accepting the country's independence. Manuel and his family are evacuated and forced to give up everything to begin a new life in France. Because of prejudice against piedsnoirs, he is never able to get a position as a surgeon and finally sets himself up as a general practitioner. Throughout all these ordeals, Manuel maintains a heroic poise, rationality, and humanism. He never loses his sympathy for all people, whatever their nationality or ethnicity. He is a genuine benefactor of humankind. In sum, the story of his personal and professional career is both eye-opening and inspiring. Some criticism might be directed at the framing of the narrative. Manuel's life story is presented as an extended reminiscence made by his son who has fallen off their fishing boat on Christmas Eve. He keeps interrupting the main narrative by describing his, eventually successful, efforts to save himself. Also unnecessary are the imagined cynical comments of his cat Heideggar. On the plus side are the wealth of metaphors and literary allusions that enrich the text. Many references are made to the ancient Romans who colonized North Africa a long time before the French did. It is also heartening to learn of the son's childhood admiration for Nils Holgersson, the young hero of classic Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf.