Pascal Quignard's Lycophron et Zétès: A Journey into Silence and Voice

Pascal Quignard's latest book, Lycophron et Zétès, published by Gallimard, explores the relationship between voice, silence, and truth. The work originates from his translation of Lycophron's Alexandra in the late 1960s. Quignard examines moments when the voice fails, leading to a silence from which literature and truth emerge. He draws parallels with figures such as Cassandra, the prophetess with a tragic end; Zacharias, who regained speech; and artists like Rothko and Paul Celan, who experienced silencing. The book also touches on historical atrocities, such as the Nazis erasing Yiddish, and the silent language of cave paintings. Quignard positions the translator as a 'pearl fisher' akin to Aby Warburg, constantly diving for fragments of thought. The text is a dense, associative journey through centuries, cultures, and personal experiences, challenging conventional literary categories.