“There
was a poem by the French author, Charles Baudelaire from
his “Les Fleurs du Mal,” titled The Carcass
that particularly struck me. It begins:
“Do you remember the sight we saw, my soul,
that soft summer morning
round a turning in the path…?”
Even when translated to English it has a distinct metre
and flow. Visual, simple yet profound, it was intimate,
speaking as if only to me, yet clearly had monumental breadth
and might whisper to anyone. It was unforgettable after
I first heard then read it. Anne de Gandt’s V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
was the same.
There is a challenge in this work, however, and I found
I ached to revise and help this precious gem shine because
the translation is problematic, requiring patience for the
errors of spelling, structure and tense. V.I.T.R.I.O.L is
literary fiction: setting, imagery, voice, characterization,
and more, not to be confused with anything less as this
would lessen its impact. Those looking for light, blasé
reading, a book to pick up and put away without a second
thought? Look elsewhere.
Personally, this story deeply spoke to me for it echoed
expressions in my own memoir. I had to read it slowly, in
increments I could understand, equate lesbibefore I could
pass on to another scene. For similar reasons, I reread
it a few times drawing as much emotion as I could from the
story of its words. It’s rare that a work creates
in me a desire know more behind what has been presented.
I knew that only reading it once wasn’t enough. For
that reason, I would imagine some might find V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
too cryptic, too difficult to comprehend at times, but I
found it engaging far beyond average.
In the emotionally charged seventeen pages of V.I.T.R.I.O.L,
there are almost whimsical views through the hideous evil
people commit, the senseless brutality in their selfish
desire for sexual release and power over others. Those who’ve
suffer thusly will recognize and know what is being represented
through imagery. Be prepared to remember parts of the rage,
fear, hurt, grief, hopelessness felt after “those”
times; your own personal madness in the so-called world
of sanity, yet it is not a book without hope or which lacks
beauty despite its serious themes. It is real is the sense
of the word that this is authentic, believable, utter truth.
Haunting, powerful and very, very unique. With great eagerness
and curiosity I look forward to reading more of Anne de
Gandt’s work.
—
Red Haircrow, author of the blog Flying
with Red Haircrow
* * *
“V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
by French author Anne de Gandt, is poetic story about a
young woman struggling to have a full and meaningful life.
Alas, she is held captive to her past, but cannot identify
or articulate the demon holding her prisoner, keeping her
from happiness and success. I had struggled with the French
version with my limited French and was very happy to see
an English translation. I reread within one day because
I wanted to keep with the entire flow of this book, as flows
so beautifully. One sentence opens to the next in such a
way that it is difficult to put down. The story provoked
a realization within me that perhaps it was time I too examined
emotions that held me back -- ones that might keep me from
living fully. The story is about a young woman who is stuck
in her memories of childhood abuse. Her soul is empty, or
so she feels, and her life is full of agony. She is lost
in fearful images and, in the author's words, “in
Hell”. My heartstrings were tugged and pulled until
I opened to look within my own soul. The author stroked
my soul with her vivid words. Beautiful well-written and
poetic and at times, eerie. Ms. de Gandt is truly a fantastic
writer who can creates a sense of romance, whilst also providing
a story that is oddly frightening to one's senses. By the
end I was feeling deeply fulfilled. ".. in the space
of a promise finally kept." I look forward to more
English translations of her writings.”.
—
June Ahern, author of The Skye in June
