ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Isild le Besco's Adolescent Novel 'Sang d'encre' Reviewed

publication · 2026-04-23

Jacques Henric reviews Isild le Besco's novel 'Sang d'encre', written when she was 16. The book presents the interior monologue of 17-year-old Benjamin, an apprentice cook, in a prose poem style. Henric compares le Besco's precocious insight to Rimbaud's, noting her two acclaimed films 'Demi-tarif' and 'Charly'. The review emphasizes the raw adolescent language and the book's physical beauty, with drawings by le Besco herself.

Key facts

  • Isild le Besco wrote 'Sang d'encre' at age 16.
  • The protagonist Benjamin is a 17-year-old apprentice cook.
  • The narrative is an interior monologue in prose poem form.
  • Henric compares le Besco to Rimbaud.
  • Le Besco also directed films 'Demi-tarif' and 'Charly'.
  • The book includes drawings by le Besco.
  • The review was published in artpress.
  • The review is by Jacques Henric.

Entities

Artists

  • Isild le Besco
  • Jacques Henric
  • Rimbaud

Institutions

  • artpress

Sources