French Connexions Webinar Series: Discussion with French academic and novelist, David Diop
David Diop, French academic and novelist
Free webinar with French academic and novelist David Diop for a discussion on his book "Frère d'âme" (in French), featuring a conversation with Lionel Cuillé, director of French Connexions, followed by a Q&A.
Born in Paris in 1966, David Diop spent most of his childhood in Senegal before returning to France for his studies. In 1998, he became professor of 18th century French and Francophone literature at the Université de Pau. In 2018, he won the prestigious Prix Goncourt des lycéens for his first novel. We encourage you to read the book in French in advance : https://www.seuil.com/ouvrage/frere-d-ame-david-diop/9782021398243
About the book: One fateful morning of World War I, Captain Armand orders an attack on the German enemy. The soldiers rush forward. Among the ranks are Seneganese riflement Alfa Ndiaye and Mademba Diop, two of the many men who fought under the French flag. Shortly after springing from the trench, Mademba falls, fatally wounded in front of his lifelong friend, Alfa, practically his brother. Alfa finds himself alone in the madness of the great massacre with no sense of purpose. Detached from everything, including himself, he spreads violence, sowing terror to the point of frightening his comrades. His evacuation to the rear is the prelude to a remembrance of his past in Africa, a whole world lost and resurrected, whose convocation is the ultimate and splendid resistance to the first butchery of the modern era.
Contact Lionel Cuillé for Zoom details: lcuille@wustl.edu