The third installment of the Glorious Thirty series, A Radiant Future, begins in 1959 with Colette, a charming granddaughter caught in a web of family complexities. As her family grapples with societal pressures and personal struggles, the narrative explores themes of resilience amid the backdrop of the Cold War. Pierre Lemaître skillfully crafts suspense through well-developed characters, including a notable family cat. This tetralogy promises a blend of adventure, social commentary, and engaging storytelling, solidifying Lemaître’s status in contemporary French literature.
The Glorious Thirty: A Radiant Future
At last, the moment we’ve been anticipating has arrived: the third installment of the captivating series exploring the Glorious Thirty (1945-1973), titled A Radiant Future. It promises to be a thrilling adventure!
This narrative kicks off on April 19, 1959, with Louis and Angèle bustling in Plessis-sur-Marne alongside their granddaughter Colette, the offspring of the formidable and tyrannical Geneviève and the timid Jean. In a moment of despair and frustration, Colette commits a grave error with dire consequences. How could such a cruel pair give rise to such a delightful and charming child? The complexities of life unfold… Indeed, A Radiant Future launches with a powerful punch. Pierre Lemaître masterfully keeps us on our toes from the very start, ensuring we are hooked.
The compassionate Nine, deeply enamored with her partner François, who oversees the news section at the Evening Journal (a nod to France-Soir), finds herself embroiled in a peculiar espionage saga in Prague. Meanwhile, Hélène, a journalist who delights in her late-night broadcasts, is married to the charming and witty Lambert (a testament to Lemaître’s talent for character development). Various political, economic, and societal dynamics will influence the family directly or indirectly: the Cold War, nuclear threats, economic growth, and the evolving landscape of journalism. The Pelletier household faces tumultuous times; life hangs precariously, and despair lurks, yet resilience and familial bonds shine through, stronger in some than others.
Lemaître, renowned for his crime novels, expertly crafts suspense, timing, and the art of revelation. The host of secondary characters, who add to the intrigue in the Pelletier home, are wonderfully drawn: the fearsome farmer Macagne, the captivating Georges Chastenet, head of intelligence, and the boisterous sound engineer Julien, who brings humor to the mix. Yet, the true star of this enchanting tale, the wise observer who knows all, is undoubtedly Joseph, the family cat.
Exploring the Tetralogy
This captivating series is known as The Glorious Years. The Great World (2022) unfolds as an adventure tale, while The Silence and the Anger offers a poignant social commentary, and A Radiant Future dives into action. Notably, Lemaître previously penned the trilogy The Children of Disaster, with its first volume, Goodbye Up There, winning the prestigious Goncourt Prize in 2013. Upon completing this tetralogy (expected in 2026), he will have authored seven out of the ten novels he envisions for the 20th century. For thriller enthusiasts, he has assured them that a detective novel will follow.
The Maestro of Popular Literature
Pierre Lemaître undoubtedly stands as a titan in contemporary French literature. His novels are engaging and universally appealing, crafted like serials that allow seamless transitions between characters. Each one shines, showcasing Lemaître’s distinctive strength. In A Radiant Future, the spotlight is particularly on young Colette.
A Child or Nothing: Half a Woman
This poignant yet enchanting tale unfolds in the writer’s homeland of Tamil Nadu, a lush agricultural region in southern India. Kali and Pona could bask in the happiness of parenthood, yet fate has other plans. Both endure suffering, with Pona bearing the greater burden. The couple faces intense societal pressure; Kali is urged to take a second wife, while others mock him or seek to curry favor for future inheritance, as he remains childless. Pona, known for her outspoken nature, finds herself ostracized, branded as a bringer of ill fortune due to her family’s ancestral curse. As the years pass, the relentless ridicule transforms Pona into a solitary figure. The continuous humiliation has plagued their lives for over a decade. Why is a child denied to them? They adhere to rituals, express gratitude to the gods, and offer gifts, yet nothing changes. Their final glimmer of hope resides in Pona’s participation in the Karattur festival, which includes a unique ceremony…
With the talented Perumal Murugan (born in 1966), we traverse a landscape that balances reality and the magical; sweetness intermingles with harshness. Nature dominates the narrative, with its stunning flora and fauna. This marks the author’s first nomination for the National Book Award (2018) and the International Booker Prize (2023), and he is newly translated into French. Notably, the backstory of this novel reveals a troubling chapter where Murugan faced a campaign of violence including death threats for alleged slander against the Gounder caste and its women.
A Winter Night’s Dream: And No One Knows
Inspired by Robert Nathan’s The Portrait of Jennie (1940) and the film adaptation by William Dieterle (1948), which follows the journey of painter Eben Adams as he encounters a mysterious girl in Central Park, Philippe Forest weaves a narrative that reflects, ‘I am recounting a tale that isn’t mine, but one that I borrowed, as it seemed to hold fragments of my life. A hint of my existence. Of what remains.‘ This girl, who grows and vanishes from Adams’ life, blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. Will Adams be able to capture her essence on canvas? Readers are invited to immerse themselves in Philippe Forest’s exquisite prose, filled with unexpected reveries and explorations of the past.
A Hard-Fought Victory: The Season of Nonsense
This debut novel by Math is crafted with precision…