Book description
Adapted to film by both Louis Malle and Joachim Trier, this heart-rending and tenderly wrought novel narrates the decline of an artist and heroin addict in 1920s Paris.
Pierre Drieu la Rochelle might be said to be both the Hemingway and the Fitzgerald of twentieth-century French literature, a battle-scarred veteranā¦
Why read it?
1 author picked The Fire Within as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This book is about a heroin addict. However, you donāt need to be a heroin addict to sympathize with its protagonistās existential wearinessāor ennui, as the French call it. I know I do. After exiting a rehabilitation clinic, he wanders around listlessly, visiting friends and acquaintances, trying to find a reason to go on, yet finding none.
The story may be better known for the excellent film adaptation by Louis Malleāwhich switches heroin for alcoholāyet the terse and evocative writing of the original novel nevertheless packs a punch. The fact that the protagonist was closely inspired by the authorās friendā¦
From Keijo's list on alienation and self-destruction.
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On a small, isolated island, in a reclusive forest, lives bandit leader Marani and her brother Jacks. With their outlaw band they rob from the rich to feed themselves, raiding carriages and dodging the occasional vindictiveā¦
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