Jean Rolin's 'Ormuz': A Beckettian Journey Through the Strait of Hormuz

Jean Rolin's latest book 'Ormuz', published by P.O.L., follows the author's journey to the desertic lands bordering the Strait of Hormuz, where temperatures average 40°C. The narrative centers on a mysterious character named Wax, who obsessively plans to swim across the strategic strait connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. The region is a geopolitical hotspot where Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman maintain tense relations, and where the Iran-Iraq war once raged. However, Rolin's narrator is less interested in Wax's project than in the spectacle of maritime traffic and the unexpected encounters along the shores. The book culminates with Wax entering and receding into the distance, a derisory Christ figure in search of nothingness. The review by Jacques Henric highlights Rolin's characteristic blend of travelogue, reportage, and existential reflection.