Alain Fleischer's 'Conférenciers' Explores the Absurdities of Public Speaking

Alain Fleischer's short story collection 'Conférenciers' (Léo Scheer) examines the performative and often absurd nature of public lectures through eleven tales. The opening story features entomologist Oskar K. Bobosh, who arrives early for his talk in an unnamed city and remains seated as the audience grows restless. Other characters include a Talmudist whose Japanese translator wildly extrapolates his words, an art historian specializing in eroticism despite her lack of sex appeal, and Alphonse Charrette, whose fame has stripped away the lightness of his youth. The collection culminates in a final story, 'Un conférencier sur son île,' which presents a mirror-like riddle for readers to solve. Michel Vignard reviewed the book for artpress.