´La seule arme qu´a un pauvre pour conserver sa dignité est d'instiller la peur´.
Political scientists are always a good reference when writing novels, particularly when trying to understand relatively fast how and why the world goes wrong. However, when a political scientist him or herself is writing a novel with a political topic, the vast theoretical knowledge may be an impediment to the fictional development.
Le Mage du Kremlin, awarded the Grand Prix of the French Academy in 2022, by Giuliano da Empoli inspired those thoughts. Set during a couple of days, during which a reclused spin doctor is sharing his story to an international student passionate about the classical WE by Zamyatin, it reveals the hidden stories of power and influence at Putin´s Kremlin. After a long career behind the closed doors of Tsar´s life, the counsellor is now enjoying his time with his daughter, whom he describes as the only important achievement worth living for.
Da Empoli is a political scientist, SciencePo teacher and political consultant as well. The figure of the spin doctor Vadim Baranow is inspired by Vladislav Surkov. Other recognizable characters, including by name, in the book are Berezovski and Khodorkovsky.
The book has interesting digressions about Russian political life after Eltsin and Putin´s psychology, but I bet that if I would have want to read about such topics would have use some nonfiction books and works of political science. The monologue of Baranow is taking the reader back and forth the power takeover and control during Putin´s years, but it´s hardly anything happening in terms of character construction and story as such.
Thus, I may declare in full honesty that was greatly disappointed about the novel, as I was really interested in spending some good time reading a good political novel in French - although there were some valuable observations of political, nonfictional nature. But, again, this is not what I was looking for.
Rating: 2 stars
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