Proses des frontières: Two Literary Meditations on Illness and Survival
The April 2013 edition of artpress includes a piece titled "Proses des frontières," which examines two French literary works addressing the thin line between life and death amid severe illness. In "Se survivre" (Verdier), Patrick Autréaux narrates his battle with cancer recurrence and the surreal suggestion from his hematologist to contemplate fatherhood, despite the risk of sterility. He humorously depicts the experience of sperm donation at a hospital. Autréaux discovers solace through his partner Rémi, who inspires him to embrace life by dancing in the nude. Jean-Marc Roberts's "Deux vies valent mieux qu'une" (Flammarion) recounts his lung tumor diagnosis in July 2011 and subsequent brain metastasis in April 2012. Roberts, who passed away on March 26, 2013, reflects on survival as an intensified second life.
Key facts
- Patrick Autréaux's 'Se survivre' published by Verdier
- Jean-Marc Roberts's 'Deux vies valent mieux qu'une' published by Flammarion
- Autréaux's cancer recurrence led to a discussion about fertility with his hematologist
- Autréaux's lover Rémi, a choreographer who learned dance in a Thai refugee camp, helped him reclaim his body
- Roberts diagnosed with lung tumor in July 2011 in Cadaqués
- Roberts diagnosed with brain metastasis in April 2012
- Roberts worked as an editor at Seuil for sixteen years and later at Stock
- Roberts died on March 26, 2013
Entities
Artists
- Patrick Autréaux
- Jean-Marc Roberts
- Rémi
- Virginia Woolf
- Cayrol
- Félix
Institutions
- artpress
- Flammarion
- Verdier
- Seuil
- Stock
- Hôpital Saint-Joseph
- Hôpital de la Pitié
Locations
- Cadaqués
- Paris
- Thailand
- Villa Borghèse
Sources
- artpress —