Patrick Deville's 'Kampuchéa' Traces Cambodia's Tragic Modern History

In 'Kampuchéa,' Patrick Deville chronicles Cambodia's tragic modern history from the 1860 discovery of Angkor temples by French naturalist Henri Mouhot to the Khmer Rouge regime. The book, published by Éditions du Seuil in the 'Fiction et cie' collection, uses a non-linear structure of vignettes to explore the complex relationship between Cambodia and France. Deville reveals that most Khmer Rouge leaders, including Saloth Sar (Pol Pot), studied in France, where they were radicalized in communist circles. The regime lasted three years, eight months, and some days, marked by extreme brutality. The narrative includes the trial of Khmer Rouge prison chief Douch, who cited Alfred de Vigny's 'La Mort du loup' in his preliminary hearing. Deville questions how a land of beauty and refinement could descend into horror through contact with Paris. The book features historical figures such as Graham Greene, King Sihanouk, André Malraux, and explorer Auguste Pavie. The review by Olivier Renault describes the work as passionate, desperate, and stimulating.