At the heart of Alain Santacreu’s romantic universe a literary treasure is revealed: “The Roman Found”. Immerse yourself in the heart of a captivating plot where imagination and reality merge to offer an unforgettable literary journey.
A work of monumental dimensions
In many ways, “The Novel Found” by Alain Santacreu is a monstrous book. Not in the pejorative sense of the term, but rather as a titanic and abundant work. Originally published under the title Opera Palas in 2017 by the publisher Alexipharmaque, the book was quickly removed from the shelves after the publishing house’s bankruptcy. However, the story takes an unexpected turn thanks to Caroline Hoctan, a writer who rediscovers the novel and offers Santacreu an interview to give it new life.
A unique literary genre
Santacreu defies the conventions of traditional novel to create what Mehdi Belhaj Kacem calls the “metaphysico-political picaresque”. The story immerses the reader in an endless adventure that crosses the layers of human history, from Judaic and Christian tradition to the Kronstadt sailors’ revolt in 1921, including the Spanish Civil War and even figures contemporary politicians like Manuel Valls.
Two fundamental pillars
The book is structured around two strong ideas. The first comes from Marcel Duchamp and his work The Big Glass, which allows Santacreu to invent a unique style of writing where the author can step aside. The second is based on an idea of George Orwell according to which History stopped in Spain in 1936. According to Santacreu, this period marks the beginning of an era of “fiction”, maintained by the economic-media system and capitalism.
A dialogue with the reader
In the “interview” portion of the book, Santacreu seeks to engage in a dialogue with his audience. It is not a question of imposing a truth but of offering a space for reflection. Thus, the book becomes a game of chess where the reader is invited to put themselves in danger and interact with the text in a cathartic way.
A spiral narrative
The structure of the book is circular, or “spiral” as the author explains. The first pages erase the “I” of the author in favor of a more objective narration, before returning to the first person. This method offers a curious back and forth between historical characters and fictional creations, transforming the reader into an active witness to the narrative evolution.
A dialectical and provocative work
Santacreu plays on contradictions to enrich his story. It presents multiple antagonisms: masculine and feminine, Stalinist Bolshevism and Slavophilism. These oppositions generate a powerful and heterogeneous dialectical thought which does not seek to resolve the contradictions but to extract all the richness from them.
A maelstrom of emotions
Read “The Novel Found” is an intense experience, provoking a range of emotions from fascination to annoyance, from enthusiasm to skepticism. The salient angles of the book leave no reader indifferent.
Technical information
- The Novel Found (2024) by Alain Santacreu
- Preface by Mehdi Belhaj Kacem
- Editions Tinbad, 2024
- ISBN: 979-10-96415-66-3
- 362 pages – €25
