François Dominique's Tender Memoir of Louis-René des Forêts
François Dominique's 'Louis-René des Forêts à présent' (Mercure de France) presents a personal perspective on the late writer Louis-René des Forêts, who passed away in late 2000. In contrast to the more formal analyses by Jean Roudaut and Dominique Rabaté, Dominique's work captures the essence of their friendship through shared reading and writing, which began in Paris in the spring of 1990. He highlights a subtle, attentive bond, referencing Maurice Blanchot. The narrative explores des Forêts' literary journey from 'Les Mendiants' (1943) to 'Ostinato' (1997) and the posthumous 'Pas à pas jusqu'au dernier' (2001), addressing themes like friendship, sleep, and childhood. Dominique cautions against interpreting des Forêts' introspection as mere self-indulgence, underscoring the delicacy of language and writing.
Key facts
- François Dominique's book 'Louis-René des Forêts à présent' is published by Mercure de France.
- Louis-René des Forêts died at the end of 2000.
- Dominique and des Forêts met regularly in Paris from spring 1990.
- Des Forêts lived near the Odéon, rue des Quatre Vents; meetings often took place at a nearby brasserie.
- The book is not a formal study but an evocation of a friendship of reading and writing.
- Dominique cites Maurice Blanchot on friendship as a slow, gradual work of time.
- Des Forêts' works include 'Les Mendiants' (1943), 'Le Bavard' (1946), 'Ostinato' (1997), and 'Pas à pas jusqu'au dernier' (2001, posthumous).
- The incipit of 'Le Bavard' is 'I often look at myself in the mirror.'
- Des Forêts' writing is characterized by extreme fragility and uncertainty of self and world.
- Dominique addresses des Forêts directly, expressing distrust of legendary biographical effects.
Entities
Artists
- Louis-René des Forêts
- François Dominique
- Georges Bataille
- Maurice Blanchot
- Jean Roudaut
- Dominique Rabaté
- Saint-Just
- Patrick Kéchichian
Institutions
- Mercure de France
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- rue des Quatre Vents
- Odéon
Sources
- artpress —