Expérience carcérale et procès social: Un roman français de Frédéric Beigbeder ou le discours auto(socio)biographique d’un marginal cocaïnomane

Authors : Armel Jovensel Ngamaleu

Pages : 177-197

Doi:10.26650/LITERA2020-0007

View : 19 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2020-06-23

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Many writers have gone through the experience of a jail sentence for various reasons. Among others, mention could particularly be made of François Villon, Maquis de Sade, Guillaume Apollinaire, Paul Verlaine, Jean Genet and Frederic Beigbeder, all from France. The latter is a highly publicized personality in his country, especially since the publication of his novel 99 Francs became a best-seller in 2000. However, on the night of January 28, 2008, Beigbeder was caught in the act of consuming cocaine on the hood of a Bentley in the street on a festive night, with a group of artist friends. So he was arrested by the police and jailed with a friend, the French writer Simon Liberati. The other revellers escaped the police. It was during the three days of his detention that Beigbeder was confronted with the work of memory, through the memories of his past, especially his childhood, to rebuild his identity and try to defend his posture as a marginal writer (Meizoz, 2011). The winner of the Prix Renaudot 2009, Un roman français is an autobiographical narration in which the author finally decided to explore his atypical personality to better justify his vision of the world while pointing an accusing finger at his country. This is because, in his opinion, it is only the fruit of the tree that is France. His individual/ personal history is thus related to social history or socio-political realities in France. This is what can justify the choice of the metaphorical and thematic title of his autobiographical novel.
Keywords : Auto(socio)biographical discourse, jail experience, social trial, cocaine, freedom