''The Sermon on the Fall of Rome'' (french: Le Sermon sur la chute de Rome) is a
novel
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...
by the French writer
Jérôme Ferrari
Jérôme Ferrari is a French writer and translator born in 1968 in Paris. He won the 2012 Prix Goncourt for his novel ''The Sermon on the Fall of Rome, Le Sermon sur la chute de Rome'' ("The Sermon on the Fall of Rome").
Ferrari has lived in Cors ...
, published in 2012.
The book received the
Prix Goncourt
The Prix Goncourt (french: Le prix Goncourt, , ''The Goncourt Prize'') is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". The prize carries a symbolic reward o ...
in 2012.
It was translated to English from the original French by Geoffrey Strachan.
Summary
The story begins with the manager of a village absconding, leaving behind a number of quarrelling would-be successors. As the story progresses, all of them fall prey to accusations of adultery and insolvency. The situation seems hopeless until Matthieu and Libero, natives of the village, rise to meet the challenge of succeeding the missing manager.
Tragically, Matthieu and Libero are led astray by alcohol and women. The story encompasses themes of tragedy, human decadence, absurdity, romance, comedy, and wisdom.
See also
*
2012 in literature
*
Contemporary French literature
This article is about French literature from the year 2000 to the present day.
Overview
The economic, political and social crises of contemporary France -terrorism, violence, immigration, unemployment, racism, etc.—and (for some) the notion ...
References
2012 French novels
French-language novels
Prix Goncourt winning works
Actes Sud books
{{2010s-novel-stub