Michel Crépu's 'Lecture' Examines the Paradox of Reading

Patrick Kéchichian reviews Michel Crépu's 'Journal littéraire 2002-2009', published by Gallimard in the collection 'L'Infini'. The book collects and revises Crépu's monthly literary journal contributions to the Revue des Deux Mondes since 2002. Kéchichian explores Crépu's central paradox: reading as a withdrawn, silent act that nonetheless generates speech and criticism. Crépu argues there is no literary criticism, only attentive readers. He describes his approach as 'gratuit, décisif, léger, essentiel'. The review highlights Crépu's influences: Maurice Blanchot, Pascal Quignard, Charles du Bos (on whom Crépu wrote an essay in 1990), and Valery Larbaud. Crépu compares his reading to libertinage, with constant changes of partner. He cites authors including Solzhenitsyn, Plotin, Sollers, Sainte-Beuve, Chateaubriand, Amiel, Jean Dutourd, and Paul Guth. The review also notes Crépu's admiration for Gide's 'Voyage au Congo' as a model. Kéchichian finds Crépu's preface too quick in dismissing criticism but praises the book's unfolding portrait of the artist as reader. The article also mentions an anthology of the Revue des Deux Mondes edited by Thomas Loué with a preface by Crépu.