Gwenaël Bulteau is a school teacher passionate about literature and writing, particularly attracted by the black genre. He writes various short stories and wins several awards. In 2017, he notably won the short story prize at the Quais du Polar festival, for “Another victory for the modern police!” subsequently published in digital editions 12-21.
In 2021, he returns with “The Republic of the Weak“, an impressive first novel of mastery and darkness which today allows him to win the 2022 edition of the Prix France Bleu l’Histoire en Polar.
Summary
On January 1, 1898, a ragpicker discovered the body of a child on the slopes of the Croix Rousse in Lyon. Very quickly, we identify a kid from the popular neighborhoods that his parents have been looking for for several weeks in vain. Commissioner Jules Soubielle is in charge of the investigation in this Lyon subject to strong tensions on the eve of the elections. The voices of an unleashed nationalism, of an anti-Semitism exacerbated by the Dreyfus affair and of a nascent socialism are raised. In the confused rustle of this end of the century, the police will have to penetrate into the intimacy of these workers and small traders, hear the voices of their wives and children to reveal the flaws of this republic which nevertheless claims that it is there to defend the weak.
Find Gwenaël Bulteau live from the show Direct access for the presentation of the France Bleu 2022 Prize – History in Polar this Wednesday, June 15 at 7 p.m.