The President (Simenon novel)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Related e |
Featured: |
Le Président (1968) is a novel by Georges Simenon. It tells the story of the last days of a former French President who is hiding a confession in the pages of the book The Adventures of King Pausole that, if revealed, would compromise the politics of his final days.
Contents |
Summary
Augustin, a former President of the Council (France), has retired to his estate in Les Ebergues after a bitter political failure. Although he is surrounded by a devoted and vigilant staff that he tyrannizes a little, he is very isolated, without his solitude affecting him, because he puts his independence above all else and he has undertaken to write his memoirs. A government crisis involving his former chief of staff gives him the opportunity to divulge certain information that would put the latter in trouble...
Without admitting it, he suffers from having lost all influence in the political life of the country. However, he sees a glimmer of hope when he closely follows a governmental crisis that France is going through and for the outcome of which the name of Chalamont, his former chief of staff is mentioned. Has he not kept documents that he believes to be compromising for the politicians of the moment and, among others, a written confession extracted from this Chalamont after a serious betrayal by him? Twenty years earlier, having been informed of an imminent devaluation, which had become essential and had been prepared in secret in the President's entourage, Chalamont had divulged the operation to his father-in-law, an important financier who had made a considerable profit.
But Augustin becomes aware of his illusory vanity when he sees Chalamont, who has become an influential man, agreeing to form a new government, thus indifferently disregarding the threat that the President thought he is facing. This shock brings the old man back to reality; it is without bitterness and in a way relieved that he will burn his papers to await a peaceful death that will come soon.
Particular aspects of the novel
A novel of voluntary solitude, with rare and brief dialogues. The present and the past rub shoulders, opening up a few glimpses into the backstage of the French political scene. The point of view adopted, that of the old President, brings out in counterpoint the relative character of events whose importance has been diluted with time.
Work description
Spatial and temporal framework
Space
"Les Ebergues", former farm located near Bénouville (Normandy). Paris.
==== Time Contemporary era.
The characters
Main character
Augustin (surname not given). Former president of the Council of Ministers. Widower (a married daughter, a grandson he no longer sees). 82 years old.
Other characters
- Philippe Chalamont, formerly secretary, then head of cabinet of the President, deputy for the [[16th Arrondissement|Template:16th] in Paris, leader of the Left Independents group.
- The staff of the President's household, including Milleran, the secretary, and Emile, the chauffeur.
Adaptation cinématographique
- 1961 : Le Président, film français réalisé par Henri Verneuil, d'après le roman éponyme de Simenon, avec Jean Gabin (Emile Beaufort), Bernard Blier (Philippe Chalamont), Renée Faure (Milleran), Alfred Adam (François, le chauffeur), Louis Seigner (Lauzet-Duchet), Henri Crémieux (Antoine Monteil) et Léon Zitrone (dans son propre rôle).
See also