The Possible Lives

 

From the moutains of Lebanon, the member of the maronite - Christian - community, at the age of 13, is sent to Rome to study theology. It is the beginning of the 17th century and Raphael Arbensis - the Latined variant of his original name of Roufeyil Harbini - is exposed not only to the intensive fight of the Catholic Church for countering the Counter-Reform but also to the newest scientific discoveries and theories.

Growing up a young adventurer, with the world his oyster, Arbensis, dressed in Western outfits, travels the world and confers to princes and emirs, saves Westerners took hostages by Oriental pirates and is received with due respect for his knowledge and language skills which buy him prestige and a social status. He writes books of historical philosophy and fornicates and will end his days back in the mountains of Lebanon, surrounded by his wife, a Lebanese too, Mariam, and their 4 children.

Des Vies Possibles by the popular and prolific Lebanese writer Charif Majdalani, which I´ve read in the original French language, reads easily as a historical novel. A short one, with a strong character and a story briefly compressed. The story is split between different short life episodes, each with the potential of a life in itself, many including various historical and philosophical observations. 

The main character, Roufeyil Harbini aka Arbensis has a story bigger than life and I was partially disappointed to not be offered a longer story, with more content and probably less philosophy. His outstanding status has a symbolic meaning as well, as he is a successful representative of the Orient who was able to emulate the West, hiding his Orientalism - not only through the name change. Indeed, he won a place in the history of those who make history, but only because he lived his place which is out of the main historical trends. It is a relatively easy take but if there would have been more story, it would have look less easy. 

For sure, I am interested to read more books by this author and explore more about the literary Lebanese identity in next posts. Des Vies Possibles was a relatively acceptable introduction to this realm.

Rating: 3 stars