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За відсутності чоловіків
Літо, 1916 рік. У небі з’являютьс� перші тіні німецьких дирижаблів, а паризькі чоловіки вирушають на фронт.
Для шістнадцятирічного Венсана, який залишається у місті майже сам, в оточенні надмірної любові й турботи жінок, життя має вигляд справжнього тріумфу свободи. Та все змінює перша закоханість у французького солдата Артюра Валеса і знайомство з відомим письменником Марселем Прустом. І десь там, серед листів, сповнених чуттєвих таємниць й одкровення першої пристрасті до французького піхотинця, розпочинається шлях його дорослішання.
Для шістнадцятирічного Венсана, який залишається у місті майже сам, в оточенні надмірної любові й турботи жінок, життя має вигляд справжнього тріумфу свободи. Та все змінює перша закоханість у французького солдата Артюра Валеса і знайомство з відомим письменником Марселем Прустом. І десь там, серед листів, сповнених чуттєвих таємниць й одкровення першої пристрасті до французького піхотинця, розпочинається шлях його дорослішання.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2001
322 people are currently reading
18.7k people want to read
About the author
Philippe Besson
50books1,128followersIn 1999, Besson, who was a jurist at that time, was inspired to write his first novel, In the Absence of Men, while reading some accounts of ex-servicemen of the First World War. The novel won the Emmanuel-Roblès prize.
'è-Dz, published in 2002, won the Grand Prix RTL-Lire 2003. Un garçon d'Italie was nominated for the Goncourt and the Médicis prizes.
Seeing that his works aroused so much interest, Philippe Besson then decided to dedicate himself exclusively to his writing.
'è-Dz, published in 2002, won the Grand Prix RTL-Lire 2003. Un garçon d'Italie was nominated for the Goncourt and the Médicis prizes.
Seeing that his works aroused so much interest, Philippe Besson then decided to dedicate himself exclusively to his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 678 reviews
April 4, 2018
Occasionally, you pick up a book not quite knowing why you chose to read it in the first place, but then gradually, page by page, you start to realize that almost every chapter tells you a little about yourself, about your life. You find that you could send whole fragments of text to relevant people in your life because those fragments tell them precisely the things that you dare not tell them or wish to tell them. This novel will undoubtedly become one of the books that will never leave me and stay on my shelf until the day I die.
August 20, 2022
Now that I've absorbed the twist, I want to re-read this book immediately. I finished it on the beach, and could only look out across the waves in contemplation. You can feel the tragic pieces in this story prior to them happening, but the heartache still arrives.
Vincent, 16, makes a friend in Marcel, 45. They are both upper class in Paris in 1916. There are rumors about Marcel (with men), but bold Vincent is undaunted in meeting Marcel openly. Vincent, however, discovers love with Arthur, 21. But Arthur is the lower class fatherless/illegitimate son of Blanche, who is just a house-servant for Vincent's family.
Part 1 of this book has lots of intimate talk, as these friendships and love develop while Arthur is home for a week from The Great War. Neither Marcel nor Vincent have fathers that care about them, and Arthur never knew his father. Marcel greatly loved his mother while she lived; Vincent is indifferent to his mother; Arthur is the only child with a strong mother/son love.
Vincent teases Marcel with affectionate words and cheek-kisses during their daytime chats. They meet in public, or in the bedroom of Marcel. The nightly visits by Arthur to Vincent are erotic in Vincent's bed as Arthur sneaks in the window. They enjoy their first-time clumsy exploration but quickly take maximum advantage of Arthur's limited time home.
"I must remember the awkwardness, took the botched gestures, the abruptness, the missed beats, because there too are signs of love."
By the time Arthur must return to the war, Vincent realizes how far they have come:
"I realise that this is what it means to be lovers: using the same words to speak of the same things though one has never heard the other use them; these random similarities, this remarkable intimacy."
Part 2 is told with letters, as Arthur returns to battle, and Marcel travels back to his childhood home taking care of some business. Vincent greatly enjoyed both of these men in part 1, and misses them dearly through letters in part 2. Vincent reveals more and more to Marcel about Arthur, as he also reveals to Arthur how Marcel has offered advice.
Part 3 is a powerful 22 final pages. I won't say anything about these other than tell you it has profound meaning to the story.
This is my second fantastic book by Besson (first was ). I am happy I have bought copies of both of these books to read again.
Vincent, 16, makes a friend in Marcel, 45. They are both upper class in Paris in 1916. There are rumors about Marcel (with men), but bold Vincent is undaunted in meeting Marcel openly. Vincent, however, discovers love with Arthur, 21. But Arthur is the lower class fatherless/illegitimate son of Blanche, who is just a house-servant for Vincent's family.
Part 1 of this book has lots of intimate talk, as these friendships and love develop while Arthur is home for a week from The Great War. Neither Marcel nor Vincent have fathers that care about them, and Arthur never knew his father. Marcel greatly loved his mother while she lived; Vincent is indifferent to his mother; Arthur is the only child with a strong mother/son love.
Vincent teases Marcel with affectionate words and cheek-kisses during their daytime chats. They meet in public, or in the bedroom of Marcel. The nightly visits by Arthur to Vincent are erotic in Vincent's bed as Arthur sneaks in the window. They enjoy their first-time clumsy exploration but quickly take maximum advantage of Arthur's limited time home.
"I must remember the awkwardness, took the botched gestures, the abruptness, the missed beats, because there too are signs of love."
By the time Arthur must return to the war, Vincent realizes how far they have come:
"I realise that this is what it means to be lovers: using the same words to speak of the same things though one has never heard the other use them; these random similarities, this remarkable intimacy."
Part 2 is told with letters, as Arthur returns to battle, and Marcel travels back to his childhood home taking care of some business. Vincent greatly enjoyed both of these men in part 1, and misses them dearly through letters in part 2. Vincent reveals more and more to Marcel about Arthur, as he also reveals to Arthur how Marcel has offered advice.
Part 3 is a powerful 22 final pages. I won't say anything about these other than tell you it has profound meaning to the story.
This is my second fantastic book by Besson (first was ). I am happy I have bought copies of both of these books to read again.
December 29, 2018
As I'm doing some reading summaries of 2018, I have decided that In the Absence of Men is the greatest disappointment of the year for me. I would like to believe that Polish translation is to blame, to some extent at least but unfortunately, this is the second book by Besson and I didn’t like either of them. In both I genuinely like the idea but the execution is a little disaster.
Let’s start with the fact that the narrator of the novel, Vincent, is one of the most unpleasant characters I can think of � and in a very dull sense. He is arrogant, full of himself and at the same time there is no charm behind it, no cheekiness even or merciless honesty, anything that would make me believe in the friendship between Vincent and Proust, much older than the protagonist. The only appealing thing about the protagonist is that he is young and pretty. Maybe that’s the point, maybe it was supposed to reveal Proust’s hunger for youth he was saying goodbye to, his vanity even. But it didn’t feel like it while reading and Vincent’s extraordinariness is enhanced by another man who fell for him � a young soldier, Arthur, obsessed with death and traumatized by war from which he escaped only for a few days or hours, into Vincent’s arms. Vincent, on the other hand, expressed curiosity and fascination with sex itself and Arthur’s body than the boy himself, only to then suddenly be love-struck out of the blue. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to read about such triangle, what an open field for emotions, self-discoveries, finding your true colours it could be! But not here. Not with this writing, not with these characters, not with the predictable and rather embarrassing twist in the end. Great potential, fully wasted.
Fun fact: In the Absence of Men is a book where women do not exist at all on the pages of the book. Only mothers of the three main characters are mentioned, more or less briefly and that was it. Ah, well.
Let’s start with the fact that the narrator of the novel, Vincent, is one of the most unpleasant characters I can think of � and in a very dull sense. He is arrogant, full of himself and at the same time there is no charm behind it, no cheekiness even or merciless honesty, anything that would make me believe in the friendship between Vincent and Proust, much older than the protagonist. The only appealing thing about the protagonist is that he is young and pretty. Maybe that’s the point, maybe it was supposed to reveal Proust’s hunger for youth he was saying goodbye to, his vanity even. But it didn’t feel like it while reading and Vincent’s extraordinariness is enhanced by another man who fell for him � a young soldier, Arthur, obsessed with death and traumatized by war from which he escaped only for a few days or hours, into Vincent’s arms. Vincent, on the other hand, expressed curiosity and fascination with sex itself and Arthur’s body than the boy himself, only to then suddenly be love-struck out of the blue. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to read about such triangle, what an open field for emotions, self-discoveries, finding your true colours it could be! But not here. Not with this writing, not with these characters, not with the predictable and rather embarrassing twist in the end. Great potential, fully wasted.
Fun fact: In the Absence of Men is a book where women do not exist at all on the pages of the book. Only mothers of the three main characters are mentioned, more or less briefly and that was it. Ah, well.
May 13, 2024
Beautiful writing but far too wordy...
...which is an odd thing to say for a book of less than 200 pages.
I just didn't believe that these are the voices of real people. Constant meandering, flowery language is fine for internal thoughts, but for dialogue? Especially when the central character is sixteen? Nope.
I do wish the character of Marcel was written out completely, and it was focused solely on Arthur and Vincent. Marcel's chapters irritated me immensely, and I just found him to be a bit of a creep.
Also the twist? I mean...meh?
Honestly, I don't understand the hype, but plenty of others seem to have enjoyed this.
Three stars for the quite clearly excellent use of language, and the parts focused on Vincent and Arthur's relationship.
...which is an odd thing to say for a book of less than 200 pages.
I just didn't believe that these are the voices of real people. Constant meandering, flowery language is fine for internal thoughts, but for dialogue? Especially when the central character is sixteen? Nope.
I do wish the character of Marcel was written out completely, and it was focused solely on Arthur and Vincent. Marcel's chapters irritated me immensely, and I just found him to be a bit of a creep.
Also the twist? I mean...meh?
Honestly, I don't understand the hype, but plenty of others seem to have enjoyed this.
Three stars for the quite clearly excellent use of language, and the parts focused on Vincent and Arthur's relationship.
May 31, 2022
Sadly, the last of Besson's books translated into English for me to read - and probably my least favorite - although they are all good and worth reading; since it was his debut novel, we'll let him slide a bit! Maybe due to a rather lackluster translation, or the longueurs of the war-related sections, but it didn't seem to have the propulsive quality of his other two books -albeit at 166 pages it only took me a day and a half to read it. It certainly provided an interesting, and I think legitimate, portrait of Proust - and I am a sucker for epistolary novels, so the second section of just that was probably my favorite. The ending was both sad, surprising ... and appropriate. I hope others of the author's work will be translated for the enjoyment of those of us whose college French is not adequate for reading it in the original.
June 12, 2024
"I realise that this is what it means to be lovers: using the same words to speak of the same things though one has never heard the other use them; these random similarities, this remarkable intimacy."
�.* If you haven't read any Philippe Besson, you must. His writing is unbearably beautiful, it hurts. I practically have every other line highlighted in my copy.
"I want to experience only the moment, not the looming certainty that I will lose that moment, not the certain awareness that, ultimately, this moment must slip from present to past, only the joy of the moment and the graze of memory."
�.* Forever waiting for more of his novels to be translated into English 🤍
December 19, 2021
This was a very well written book. I enjoyed parts 2 & 3 the most. I felt there could’ve been more character building in part one or at least the author could’ve gotten us more engaged with the primary character as he came off rather unlikeable. I also wondered if the letters in part two could have been written so openly. Were letters to & from soldiers not inspected by the military during World War One? Overall, very good book and I hope more of this author’s work is translated into English in the future.
July 9, 2023
This book broke me.
There are great books I love because they are exactly that. Great. Works of genius. Things to be marvelled at, applauded and in awe of.
Then there are books I love because they completely absorb me into their world, with characters I feel drawn to, and almost feel like I care about their stories in real terms. I myself feel the emotions these characters endure. I feel I can put myself in their situation or have indeed experienced something similar in my own lifetime so that I can empathise. This is one of these books.
Set in WW1, it is the love story of Arthur Valés and Vincent de l’Étoile.
It is also the story of 16 yr old Vincent’s coming of age and loss of innocence under the most devastating of circumstances. War.
There is also an added layer in the friendship between 16 yr old Vincent and 45 yr old Marcel. (Non-sexual, to be clear.)
Besson’s prose is exquisite at conveying the emotions that accompany human desires, longings, fears and failings. The urgency, dread and gravity of the situation Arthur and Vincent live through in these pages feels real to me.
His perception of human communication, with all its flaws, awkwardness and often inadequacies, is perfect.
I would warn people though� it is a lot.
It is an important work in queer literature, and one that certainly influenced future queer books set in this period of modern history.
I also loved Lie With Me, and so it seems a great shame that not more of Besson’s work has yet been translated into English. Fitzcarraldo Editions, are you reading this?
There are great books I love because they are exactly that. Great. Works of genius. Things to be marvelled at, applauded and in awe of.
Then there are books I love because they completely absorb me into their world, with characters I feel drawn to, and almost feel like I care about their stories in real terms. I myself feel the emotions these characters endure. I feel I can put myself in their situation or have indeed experienced something similar in my own lifetime so that I can empathise. This is one of these books.
Set in WW1, it is the love story of Arthur Valés and Vincent de l’Étoile.
It is also the story of 16 yr old Vincent’s coming of age and loss of innocence under the most devastating of circumstances. War.
There is also an added layer in the friendship between 16 yr old Vincent and 45 yr old Marcel. (Non-sexual, to be clear.)
Besson’s prose is exquisite at conveying the emotions that accompany human desires, longings, fears and failings. The urgency, dread and gravity of the situation Arthur and Vincent live through in these pages feels real to me.
His perception of human communication, with all its flaws, awkwardness and often inadequacies, is perfect.
I would warn people though� it is a lot.
It is an important work in queer literature, and one that certainly influenced future queer books set in this period of modern history.
I also loved Lie With Me, and so it seems a great shame that not more of Besson’s work has yet been translated into English. Fitzcarraldo Editions, are you reading this?
December 13, 2020
"In the Absence of Men" is the latest of Philippe Besson's gay tales to be translated into English.
Vincent is an upper-class Frenchman coming of age during World War I. One summer, while Paris is empty of men, who have all gone off to war, Vincent happens to meet and strike up a friendship with a renowned author, Marcel. Marcel, a middle-aged homosexual, helps Vincent as he processes his first time being in love with another man, a soldier he has known since childhood who is on leave from the Front. This friendship and mentorship helps him grow more confident in his love for the soldier until news breaks about the true connections between these Parisian gay men.
Though an interesting tale of gay love and gay friendship, the form of this book is odd - the middle section is communicated through an exchange of letters that leaves much to be desired in terms of character development and plot. For that reason, the book was much less interesting than it should have been.
Vincent is an upper-class Frenchman coming of age during World War I. One summer, while Paris is empty of men, who have all gone off to war, Vincent happens to meet and strike up a friendship with a renowned author, Marcel. Marcel, a middle-aged homosexual, helps Vincent as he processes his first time being in love with another man, a soldier he has known since childhood who is on leave from the Front. This friendship and mentorship helps him grow more confident in his love for the soldier until news breaks about the true connections between these Parisian gay men.
Though an interesting tale of gay love and gay friendship, the form of this book is odd - the middle section is communicated through an exchange of letters that leaves much to be desired in terms of character development and plot. For that reason, the book was much less interesting than it should have been.
July 27, 2024
4,5�
Inconsciamente questa volta ho scelto di leggere la sua opera prima. Non sembra. Perfetta padronanza delle parole, dolcezza intrisa di sofferenza da far allagare un cuore indurito come il mio. Strabiliante.
Inconsciamente questa volta ho scelto di leggere la sua opera prima. Non sembra. Perfetta padronanza delle parole, dolcezza intrisa di sofferenza da far allagare un cuore indurito come il mio. Strabiliante.
March 9, 2025
We meet again месьє Бессон... 😬
Моє перше знайомство з Філіппом Бессоном відбулося минулого року з «Припини свої вигадки». Ох, скільки ж шуму наробив цей роман. Пам'ятаю, що багатьом він дуже сподобався, аж до того, що висловлення альтернативної думки сприймалося як щось надприроднє, бо це ж пан Бессон, захисник жіночих прав та ще й таку щемку автобіографічну історію кохання написав. Як ви вже могли зрозуміти, тою людиною, що вбила гвіздок поміж всіх, кому сподобалося, була я. В мене навіть кумедна ситуація трапилася навколо цієї книги - посварилася в тіктоці з якоюсь пані суперблогершою, бо бачте посміла зазіхнути на геніальність пана Бессона.
І ось Л��бораторія знову перекладає й видає черговий роман цього автора. Я ж не могла собі відмовити у задоволенні й надалі знайомитися з творчістю пана Бессона. Тому пару кліків мишкою, два дні відстежування і ось скарб у мене...
Спокуслива обіцянка глибокого інтелектуального роману про юність, війну, любов і втрату. Але замість цього книга розгорнулася як дивний фанфік про Марселя Пруста, наповнений сумнівною мораллю, стереотипами й відстороненими персонажами. І чому я не дивуюся?)
Що в нас по сюжету? Літо 1916 року. У паризькому небі з’являютьс� зловісні силуети німецьких дирижаблів, а чоловіки один за одним вирушають на фронт.
Шістнадцятирічний Венсан залишається у місті майже сам, оточений надмірною опікою жінок, але для нього це � час безмежної свободи. Усе змінюється, коли він закохується в харизматичного солдата Артюра Валеса й знайомиться з легендарним Марселем Прустом. Листи, наповнені палкими зізнаннями та чуттєвими таємницями, перша пристрасть до французького піхотинця � так починається його шлях у доросле життя.
А тепер, що ж мені не сподобалося:
📚 Найбільша проблема, що вся ця історія виглядає як фанфік про Марселя Пруста, а не самостійний літературний твір. Використання відомої історичної постаті як персонажа апріорі накладає на нього якісь певні очікування, але тут Пруст поданий настільки штучно й гротескно, що важко повірити в його справжність. Він більше нагадує карикатуру на самого себе.
Історична довідка:
Марсель Пруст був гомосексуалом, хоча ніколи відкрито цього не визнавав. Його близькі друзі й біографи підтверджують його стосунки з чоловіками, зокрема з композитором Рейнальдо Ааном та секретарем Альфредом Агостінеллі. У 1897 році Пруст навіть брав участь у дуелі через плітки про його зв’язо� із Люсьєном Доде. У 1918 році його ім’� фігурувало в поліцейському рейді на чоловічий бордель. Його сексуальність знайшла відображення в «У пошуках втраченого часу», де є персонажі-гомосексуали та бісексуали.
😬 Я не змогла відчути емпатію ні до одного героя. Вони всі якісь надто відсторонені, холодні, а їхні емоції більше декларуються, ніж переживаються. Венсан, попри молодість, не викликає жодного відчуття живої людини - він радше функція, голос, що веде оповідь.
⛔️ Чітко прослідковується мізогінія в розмовах між Марселем і Венсаном. Особливо з боку Марселя - він дозволяє собі висловлювання, які відверто зневажливі щодо жінок. Це виглядає не як особливість характеру чи атмосфери того часу, а як бездумне підкреслення нібито «високого інтелектуального рівня» їхніх діалогів. Будь-яке подальше згадування жінок віддає певним презирством або байдужістю, і це залишає неприємний відбиток. Пригадаймо «Припини свої вигадки» і чітко вимовлене побажання героя свої бабці «померти, ніж жити таке життя».
🖍 Автор намагається подати Венсана як емоційно зрілого персонажа, але його вчинки говорять протилежне. Він холодний, егоцентричний і вважає, що може одночасно мати стосунки з Марселем і Артюром тільки тому, що вони з різних суспільних верств. Його дії егоїстичні, але вони не мають глибини, що зробило б їх виправданими чи хоча б цікавими.
😐 Марсель викликає огиду своєю поведінкою. Він сам ініціює контакт із Венсаном, запрошує його на зустрічі, а коли дізнається про його зв’язо� з Артюром, починає тиснути на юнака, переконуючи, що це збочення і що за таке можна потрапити до в’язниц�. Це класичний приклад маніпуляції, яка ніяк не осмислюється текстом критично.
🤨 Окремо варто зупинитися на тому, як у романі романтизується та фактично пропагується розбещення неповнолітніх. Головному герою Венсану всього 16 років, а його коханцем є 21-річний солдат Артюр. Ще більш проблематичним є зв’язо� Венсана з 45-річним Марселем Прустом. Автор намагається подати ці стосунки як щось піднесене, інтелектуальне, але насправді вони побудовані на маніпуляціях і нездоровій динаміці влади. Марсель - зрілий чоловік, відомий письменник, який використовує свій статус і життєвий досвід для впливу на підлітка, видаючи це за «романтичне» просвітництво.
Так само й Артюр, дорослий чоловік, який воює на фронті, не бачить нічого поганого в тому, щоб будувати романтичні стосунки з 16-річним хлопцем. Ба більше, його зради виправдовуються «самотністю на війні», що виглядає як чергова спроба замаскувати моральну неприпустимість їхніх відносин.
Така подача викликає сильне відторгнення. Немає жодного критичного погляду на ситуацію, жодного усвідомлення проблематики. Замість цього книга намагається зробити з цієї історії щось прекрасне й трагічне, ігноруючи те, що насправді вона проектує токсичні й небезпечні ідеї.
🩸 Ще трішки про Артюра і його зраду. Його мотивація - нудьга і самотність на війні. Серйозно? Це спрощення й применшення реального жаху військових подій. Він не переживає внутрішнього конфлікту, не проходить жодної еволюції - він просто існує в тексті як ще один штучний елемент.
🤯 Абсурдно фантастичний фінал. Якщо до цього моменту книга ще зберігала видимість серйозності, то фінал її просто руйнує. Виявляється, що Артюр - син Марселя. Це виглядає настільки награно й безглуздо, що залишається лише запитати: «Навіщо?» Цей сюжетний поворот не має сенсу і не додає нічого до загальної історії, окрім ще більшого відчуття абсурду.
Загалом пан Бессон такий Бессон. Не рекомендую!
P.S. Єдиний плюс в тому, що швидко й легко читається. На цьому в мене все. Відверто нічого не маю проти таких історій, але не в цьому випадку. Після «Припини свої вигадки» читала «Майже хороших хлопців» Дарії Чайки, і книга мені дуже сподобалася - щира, щемка історія кохання двох друзів, та ще й в чудовому українському сеттингу.
Моє перше знайомство з Філіппом Бессоном відбулося минулого року з «Припини свої вигадки». Ох, скільки ж шуму наробив цей роман. Пам'ятаю, що багатьом він дуже сподобався, аж до того, що висловлення альтернативної думки сприймалося як щось надприроднє, бо це ж пан Бессон, захисник жіночих прав та ще й таку щемку автобіографічну історію кохання написав. Як ви вже могли зрозуміти, тою людиною, що вбила гвіздок поміж всіх, кому сподобалося, була я. В мене навіть кумедна ситуація трапилася навколо цієї книги - посварилася в тіктоці з якоюсь пані суперблогершою, бо бачте посміла зазіхнути на геніальність пана Бессона.
І ось Л��бораторія знову перекладає й видає черговий роман цього автора. Я ж не могла собі відмовити у задоволенні й надалі знайомитися з творчістю пана Бессона. Тому пару кліків мишкою, два дні відстежування і ось скарб у мене...
Спокуслива обіцянка глибокого інтелектуального роману про юність, війну, любов і втрату. Але замість цього книга розгорнулася як дивний фанфік про Марселя Пруста, наповнений сумнівною мораллю, стереотипами й відстороненими персонажами. І чому я не дивуюся?)
Що в нас по сюжету? Літо 1916 року. У паризькому небі з’являютьс� зловісні силуети німецьких дирижаблів, а чоловіки один за одним вирушають на фронт.
Шістнадцятирічний Венсан залишається у місті майже сам, оточений надмірною опікою жінок, але для нього це � час безмежної свободи. Усе змінюється, коли він закохується в харизматичного солдата Артюра Валеса й знайомиться з легендарним Марселем Прустом. Листи, наповнені палкими зізнаннями та чуттєвими таємницями, перша пристрасть до французького піхотинця � так починається його шлях у доросле життя.
А тепер, що ж мені не сподобалося:
📚 Найбільша проблема, що вся ця історія виглядає як фанфік про Марселя Пруста, а не самостійний літературний твір. Використання відомої історичної постаті як персонажа апріорі накладає на нього якісь певні очікування, але тут Пруст поданий настільки штучно й гротескно, що важко повірити в його справжність. Він більше нагадує карикатуру на самого себе.
Історична довідка:
Марсель Пруст був гомосексуалом, хоча ніколи відкрито цього не визнавав. Його близькі друзі й біографи підтверджують його стосунки з чоловіками, зокрема з композитором Рейнальдо Ааном та секретарем Альфредом Агостінеллі. У 1897 році Пруст навіть брав участь у дуелі через плітки про його зв’язо� із Люсьєном Доде. У 1918 році його ім’� фігурувало в поліцейському рейді на чоловічий бордель. Його сексуальність знайшла відображення в «У пошуках втраченого часу», де є персонажі-гомосексуали та бісексуали.
😬 Я не змогла відчути емпатію ні до одного героя. Вони всі якісь надто відсторонені, холодні, а їхні емоції більше декларуються, ніж переживаються. Венсан, попри молодість, не викликає жодного відчуття живої людини - він радше функція, голос, що веде оповідь.
⛔️ Чітко прослідковується мізогінія в розмовах між Марселем і Венсаном. Особливо з боку Марселя - він дозволяє собі висловлювання, які відверто зневажливі щодо жінок. Це виглядає не як особливість характеру чи атмосфери того часу, а як бездумне підкреслення нібито «високого інтелектуального рівня» їхніх діалогів. Будь-яке подальше згадування жінок віддає певним презирством або байдужістю, і це залишає неприємний відбиток. Пригадаймо «Припини свої вигадки» і чітко вимовлене побажання героя свої бабці «померти, ніж жити таке життя».
🖍 Автор намагається подати Венсана як емоційно зрілого персонажа, але його вчинки говорять протилежне. Він холодний, егоцентричний і вважає, що може одночасно мати стосунки з Марселем і Артюром тільки тому, що вони з різних суспільних верств. Його дії егоїстичні, але вони не мають глибини, що зробило б їх виправданими чи хоча б цікавими.
😐 Марсель викликає огиду своєю поведінкою. Він сам ініціює контакт із Венсаном, запрошує його на зустрічі, а коли дізнається про його зв’язо� з Артюром, починає тиснути на юнака, переконуючи, що це збочення і що за таке можна потрапити до в’язниц�. Це класичний приклад маніпуляції, яка ніяк не осмислюється текстом критично.
🤨 Окремо варто зупинитися на тому, як у романі романтизується та фактично пропагується розбещення неповнолітніх. Головному герою Венсану всього 16 років, а його коханцем є 21-річний солдат Артюр. Ще більш проблематичним є зв’язо� Венсана з 45-річним Марселем Прустом. Автор намагається подати ці стосунки як щось піднесене, інтелектуальне, але насправді вони побудовані на маніпуляціях і нездоровій динаміці влади. Марсель - зрілий чоловік, відомий письменник, який використовує свій статус і життєвий досвід для впливу на підлітка, видаючи це за «романтичне» просвітництво.
Так само й Артюр, дорослий чоловік, який воює на фронті, не бачить нічого поганого в тому, щоб будувати романтичні стосунки з 16-річним хлопцем. Ба більше, його зради виправдовуються «самотністю на війні», що виглядає як чергова спроба замаскувати моральну неприпустимість їхніх відносин.
Така подача викликає сильне відторгнення. Немає жодного критичного погляду на ситуацію, жодного усвідомлення проблематики. Замість цього книга намагається зробити з цієї історії щось прекрасне й трагічне, ігноруючи те, що насправді вона проектує токсичні й небезпечні ідеї.
🩸 Ще трішки про Артюра і його зраду. Його мотивація - нудьга і самотність на війні. Серйозно? Це спрощення й применшення реального жаху військових подій. Він не переживає внутрішнього конфлікту, не проходить жодної еволюції - він просто існує в тексті як ще один штучний елемент.
🤯 Абсурдно фантастичний фінал. Якщо до цього моменту книга ще зберігала видимість серйозності, то фінал її просто руйнує. Виявляється, що Артюр - син Марселя. Це виглядає настільки награно й безглуздо, що залишається лише запитати: «Навіщо?» Цей сюжетний поворот не має сенсу і не додає нічого до загальної історії, окрім ще більшого відчуття абсурду.
Загалом пан Бессон такий Бессон. Не рекомендую!
P.S. Єдиний плюс в тому, що швидко й легко читається. На цьому в мене все. Відверто нічого не маю проти таких історій, але не в цьому випадку. Після «Припини свої вигадки» читала «Майже хороших хлопців» Дарії Чайки, і книга мені дуже сподобалася - щира, щемка історія кохання двох друзів, та ще й в чудовому українському сеттингу.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2022
Philippe Besson try to write about happiness challenge
January 4, 2022
Never judge a book by its cover. That appears to be very true for a lot of modern fiction: advertising produces covers that are more persuasive than the writing inside. The new edition of In the Absence of Men is a handsome edition, compact, seductive and elegantly type-faced. Besson's prose, however, is thin, and its narrative borders on the absurd. Part One is a sort-of-notebook in which the adolescent Vincent L'Etoile, a victorious star, attracts the love of two men: Arthur, an older soldier, and Marcel, a much older writer (Marcel Proust). The novel is a Platonic discourse on love, which never really reaches any great depths because Vincent is such a superficial young lover. In Part Two, conveniently, both adult lovers are separated from Vincent. This allows for an epistolary section in which the three characters, via a trialogue, speculate on love and war. The letters from Arthur are reminiscent of the liebestod struck by poets in the First World War. And the letters from Marcel are an odd mix of Barthes spiced with Wilde -- not at all convincing. Part Three offers the inevitable tragic conclusion and a sting in the tail that is so contrived that it strikes the reader as ridiculous. The result is a novel not so much in the absence of men as in the absence of believable writing.
June 3, 2022
Philippe Besson é um autor que tenho vindo a descobrir. Tenho sempre uma relação algo ambivalente com os livros que vou lendo dele. “Deixa-te de Mentiras� - o seu livro mais conhecido em Portugal - é um livro que me encanta e que pontualmente me irrita com a mesma intensidade.
Neste “Em tempos de guerra� essa dicotomia volta a surgir. A construção narrativa, algo entre as “entradas de um diário� e a narração epistolar com cartas trocadas entre as três personagens masculinas, é particularmente interessante. A linguagem, muitas vezes poética é intensa e bela.
Ainda assim a trama parece-me algo “forçada� e as personagens perdem-se em múltiplos estereótipos. O amor - e as cenas de sexo - entre um adolescente - filho da alta burguesia -, de 16 anos e um professor de 21 anos (soldado na frente de batalha da I Guerra Mundial e filho da empregada da casa) está construído de uma forma pouco realista para o quotidiano da burguesia parisiense do início do século. Diferentemente a amizade entre esse mesmo adolescente e Marcel Proust está marcada por inúmeros sinais da obra e da vida “proustiana� que me encantaram como leitor.
Como conclusão diria que o modelo da obra e a escrita me encantou, a história ficou um pouco aquém mas foi um bom início de leituras neste mês do Orgulho LGBTI.
Neste “Em tempos de guerra� essa dicotomia volta a surgir. A construção narrativa, algo entre as “entradas de um diário� e a narração epistolar com cartas trocadas entre as três personagens masculinas, é particularmente interessante. A linguagem, muitas vezes poética é intensa e bela.
Ainda assim a trama parece-me algo “forçada� e as personagens perdem-se em múltiplos estereótipos. O amor - e as cenas de sexo - entre um adolescente - filho da alta burguesia -, de 16 anos e um professor de 21 anos (soldado na frente de batalha da I Guerra Mundial e filho da empregada da casa) está construído de uma forma pouco realista para o quotidiano da burguesia parisiense do início do século. Diferentemente a amizade entre esse mesmo adolescente e Marcel Proust está marcada por inúmeros sinais da obra e da vida “proustiana� que me encantaram como leitor.
Como conclusão diria que o modelo da obra e a escrita me encantou, a história ficou um pouco aquém mas foi um bom início de leituras neste mês do Orgulho LGBTI.
January 14, 2024
starting 2024 with this book that broke me and left me shattered on the floor ; I do not wish to be collected, I wish to stay there, with all my sharped emotions and I invite you to come and step on them so you could feel too
June 10, 2011
This is one of those books that makes me amazed and wonder why I decided to pick up in the first place. Because after reading it, it felt like a whirlwind piece of fiction, and it left me dazed and wondering what just happened.
Believe me, it's a good thing. I actually like this book. It's just that I rarely encounter books of this kind that when I actually read one, I get a little shocked. So what is this book about?
This tells the story of Vincent de l'Etoile, a sixteen-year-old boy of aristocratic descent, and his relationships with two people: a platonic one with Marcel Proust, who is portrayed here as a 45-year-old writer; and a romantic one with Arthur Vales, a twenty-one-year-old schoolmaster, but since it is set in World War I (the Great War, as the book calls it), he is a soldier.
The story is basically a triangle, a story that centers between Vincent and Arthur, and between Vincent and Marcel. Arthur and Marcel are also related, but I won't give that away, since that was the ultimate surprise ending. Yes, I was able to predict it, but only at the last minute, when I realized that all the math added up.
So the last time I read a piece of LGBT literature was back in May 2010, when I read Boy Culture by Matthew Rettenmund. I ended up hating that book, and so far, I don't have a data point about reading LGBT literature and liking it. This time, I think the pattern will be broken.
Perhaps, what impressed me with this book is the various literary devices that were in place. I had this idea that LGBT literature is all about superficial stories about the lives of LGBT people, arguing for acceptance from the straight world. Because until now, that's the vibe I have been getting whenever I pick up a piece of LGBT literature. However, this book on the other hand felt so different. It was psychological fiction, the characters simply loved people of the same sex. Replace one of the names with a female name and you'll get your run-of-the-mill heterosexual romantic drama. Perhaps what is most striking is the idea that the characters have real emotions too, and they are human as well, like the rest of the population. They feel, they fall in love, they get hurt.
One of the most interesting literary devices I saw in this novel was the fact that parts of it were written in the second-person narrative. There were a lot of references that started with You said... and You [verbed]..., and depending on the chapter, the second person varied. This is because the chapters that were about Vincent and Marcel were alternating with the chapters about Vincent and Arthur. I felt that this use of the second-person narrative actually made the reader (me) more involved, because the prose felt like Vincent was writing or telling the story to me, and I would fill in the role of Arthur or Marcel, depending on the chapter.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part was written in the second-person narrative as I mentioned above, which chronicled events that happened in the span of one week. At the outset, Vincent meets both Marcel and Arthur for the first time, and their relationships develop in 7 days. Vincent meets Marcel in a salon, while he meets Arthur in their estate, since Arthur has a week of leave from the army, and his mother is the governess for Vincent's family.
The second part is written in the epistolary format, since both Arthur and Marcel leave Vincent in Paris. Arthur is sent back to the trenches, and Marcel has business to do in Illiers. This part consists of letters that were sent back and forth between these three characters.
Finally, the third part is more of a conclusion, since the climactic point of the book is actually at the end of the second part, and the third part serves as a nice way of tying things together. I do not want to reveal what the climax was about, but once everything fits into place, one would just be swept away.
So, overall, I liked this book. I definitely recommend it. The story is simple and yet moving, and powerful nonetheless. I don't regret the fact that I strolled into the library looking for some piece of modern French literature (which is why I grabbed a book from the PQ shelves), since I was able to pick up this one. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for its brilliant structure.
Believe me, it's a good thing. I actually like this book. It's just that I rarely encounter books of this kind that when I actually read one, I get a little shocked. So what is this book about?
This tells the story of Vincent de l'Etoile, a sixteen-year-old boy of aristocratic descent, and his relationships with two people: a platonic one with Marcel Proust, who is portrayed here as a 45-year-old writer; and a romantic one with Arthur Vales, a twenty-one-year-old schoolmaster, but since it is set in World War I (the Great War, as the book calls it), he is a soldier.
The story is basically a triangle, a story that centers between Vincent and Arthur, and between Vincent and Marcel. Arthur and Marcel are also related, but I won't give that away, since that was the ultimate surprise ending. Yes, I was able to predict it, but only at the last minute, when I realized that all the math added up.
So the last time I read a piece of LGBT literature was back in May 2010, when I read Boy Culture by Matthew Rettenmund. I ended up hating that book, and so far, I don't have a data point about reading LGBT literature and liking it. This time, I think the pattern will be broken.
Perhaps, what impressed me with this book is the various literary devices that were in place. I had this idea that LGBT literature is all about superficial stories about the lives of LGBT people, arguing for acceptance from the straight world. Because until now, that's the vibe I have been getting whenever I pick up a piece of LGBT literature. However, this book on the other hand felt so different. It was psychological fiction, the characters simply loved people of the same sex. Replace one of the names with a female name and you'll get your run-of-the-mill heterosexual romantic drama. Perhaps what is most striking is the idea that the characters have real emotions too, and they are human as well, like the rest of the population. They feel, they fall in love, they get hurt.
One of the most interesting literary devices I saw in this novel was the fact that parts of it were written in the second-person narrative. There were a lot of references that started with You said... and You [verbed]..., and depending on the chapter, the second person varied. This is because the chapters that were about Vincent and Marcel were alternating with the chapters about Vincent and Arthur. I felt that this use of the second-person narrative actually made the reader (me) more involved, because the prose felt like Vincent was writing or telling the story to me, and I would fill in the role of Arthur or Marcel, depending on the chapter.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part was written in the second-person narrative as I mentioned above, which chronicled events that happened in the span of one week. At the outset, Vincent meets both Marcel and Arthur for the first time, and their relationships develop in 7 days. Vincent meets Marcel in a salon, while he meets Arthur in their estate, since Arthur has a week of leave from the army, and his mother is the governess for Vincent's family.
The second part is written in the epistolary format, since both Arthur and Marcel leave Vincent in Paris. Arthur is sent back to the trenches, and Marcel has business to do in Illiers. This part consists of letters that were sent back and forth between these three characters.
Finally, the third part is more of a conclusion, since the climactic point of the book is actually at the end of the second part, and the third part serves as a nice way of tying things together. I do not want to reveal what the climax was about, but once everything fits into place, one would just be swept away.
So, overall, I liked this book. I definitely recommend it. The story is simple and yet moving, and powerful nonetheless. I don't regret the fact that I strolled into the library looking for some piece of modern French literature (which is why I grabbed a book from the PQ shelves), since I was able to pick up this one. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for its brilliant structure.
Read
June 17, 2019DNF
Philippe Besson admira obviamente Marguerite Duras, e este pastiche LGBT até podia ser interessante se o protagonista não fosse tão irritante e se a situação não fosse tão inverosímil.
Vincent, que já disse umas dez vezes em 50 páginas que tem cabelo preto, olhos verdes e pele de menina, encontra-se com Marcel Proust (30 anos mais velho, nada creepy) à tarde e dorme com o filho da empregada (sim, esse cliché) à noite. Primeiro, diz: "Já não sou inocente. Já não sou uma criança", mais à frente afirma: "Sou uma criança despreocupada". Decida-se...
Estamos em 1916 e toda a gente reage com a maior naturalidade quando vê Proust com este jovem. Estamos em 1916 e Vincent dorme a noite toda, até ser manhã, com o filho da empregada, com a maior das descontracções. Idealmente, a realidade seria mesmo assim, mas não me parece, portanto, exige-me uma suspensão da descrença que não possuo.
Philippe Besson admira obviamente Marguerite Duras, e este pastiche LGBT até podia ser interessante se o protagonista não fosse tão irritante e se a situação não fosse tão inverosímil.
Vincent, que já disse umas dez vezes em 50 páginas que tem cabelo preto, olhos verdes e pele de menina, encontra-se com Marcel Proust (30 anos mais velho, nada creepy) à tarde e dorme com o filho da empregada (sim, esse cliché) à noite. Primeiro, diz: "Já não sou inocente. Já não sou uma criança", mais à frente afirma: "Sou uma criança despreocupada". Decida-se...
Estamos em 1916 e toda a gente reage com a maior naturalidade quando vê Proust com este jovem. Estamos em 1916 e Vincent dorme a noite toda, até ser manhã, com o filho da empregada, com a maior das descontracções. Idealmente, a realidade seria mesmo assim, mas não me parece, portanto, exige-me uma suspensão da descrença que não possuo.
June 25, 2019
I'm still processing this novel a couple of days after finishing it. As someone who writes, I simply marvel at Philippe Besson's command of his craft. Often he packs more meaning into one sentence than I will have in an entire chapter. The writing is so exquisite. The translation is flawless. I realize that Besson's newest novel, Lie With Me, is getting all the press at the moment (partly due to Andre Aciman's correct praise, and Molly Ringwald's translation). But when you have finished reading Lie With Me, I would urge you to dig deeper into Besson and enjoy prose as you rarely find it nowadays. In the Absence of Men may be, at least to me, the best indictment of both war and class distinctions I have encountered. It is certainly the best love story I have had the pleasure to read.
March 8, 2025
4,4 🌟
раджу читати цю книгу, а потім «Припини свої вигадки».
Бессон тонко підмічає деталі про людей, якими вони є, та описує почуття. і загалом пише дуже гарно, мене його стиль зворушує.
ця книга ще й відгукнеться певними речима й українцям, на жаль.
у сюжеті вгадала, що буде � нагадало «Стілець Еліяху», який свого часу мене вразив. хотіла б не вгадати, але шож. все одно враження хороші, і це не основне, про що книга насправді.
раджу читати цю книгу, а потім «Припини свої вигадки».
Бессон тонко підмічає деталі про людей, якими вони є, та описує почуття. і загалом пише дуже гарно, мене його стиль зворушує.
ця книга ще й відгукнеться певними речима й українцям, на жаль.
у сюжеті вгадала, що буде � нагадало «Стілець Еліяху», який свого часу мене вразив. хотіла б не вгадати, але шож. все одно враження хороші, і це не основне, про що книга насправді.
December 6, 2018
Sau khi đọc "Đừng t� dối mình", tôi bèn tìm những cuốn khác của Philippe Besson đọc và ch� tìm thấy "In The Absence Of Men" là có bản tiếng Anh. Cuốn tiểu thuyết đầu tay của Philippe Besson được viết đ� dành tặng cho nhà văn có ảnh hưởng rất lớn đến s� nghiệp sáng tác của ông: Marcel Proust, dù Marcel Proust không phải là nhân vật chính, câu chuyện xoay quanh mối tình của chàng trai 17 tuổi với một người lính nơi chiến trường. Một cuốn sách đẹp đ�, rung động, giàu chất thơ và trần đầy nhục cảm, hy vọng s� có những cuốn sách khác của Philippe Besson được dịch.
June 18, 2024
zestienjarige Vincent ontdekt wat liefde en liefhebben is ten tijde van de oorlog die van duizenden Franse jongenmannen inzet en soms levens eist. tegelijkertijd ontwikkelt hij een merkwaardige band met een gerenommeerd auteur bijna dertig jaar ouder dan hijzelf, die hem begeleidt in deze fase van zijn leven, want wijsheid komt met de jaren en deze wil de naamloze man maar al te graag overbrengen met de beste intenties. ze praten veel over Vincents korte maar hevige relatie met de eenentwintigjarige Arthur, die na een week van hun samenzijn al naar het front wordt gestuurd. de hoop van de schrijver om naïeve en realiteitszinloze gevoelens te onderdrukken ten gunste van zelfbescherming blijkt al gauw onmogelijk voor een jongen die voor de allereerste keer alles ervaart; sensualiteit, intimiteit en vooral zijn seksualiteit. Bessons schrijfstijl is weelderig, vertederend en vertrouwelijk en neemt de lezer meer dan perfect mee in de belevingswereld van de melancholische, haast tragikomische eerste liefde die door menselijke omstandigheden onwerkbaar wordt gemaakt. laatste aantal pagina’s zijn opmerkelijk en interessant, maar misschien ook net wat te gepolijst- ik kan me zomaar indenken dat een alternatief passender was geweest
March 9, 2025
Oh to be a beautiful muse to tragic men in war torn early 1900s Paris. This book was all about the passions of first relationships, and it was so beautifully written. The last act plot twist did make me bark laugh though.
March 31, 2025
(3.5 ⭐️) this was a tender story about love and coming of age during WWI. Although I could see where this was going, it still packed an emotional punch despite being short & sweet. Part II with the letters left some to be desired, and overall wanted a little more character background but still enjoyed for a vacay read
May 9, 2022
‘Call me by your name� meets ‘Brokeback mountain� meets ‘The absolutist�. Short, sharp, sweet, intense little novel. I enjoyed it very much
March 26, 2023
Mr Besson I will once again be sending you my therapy bill
January 29, 2024
C’était magnifique. Rien d’autre à dire.
July 12, 2024
Love starting my day off crying 😀😀
March 31, 2025
I really loved In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson. His writing always makes me chew on the meaning, and by the end, I’m ready to flip back to the first page to start over. This book is deep, with characters who are broken but feel everything so intensely. You don’t immediately fall in love with them, at least I didn’t, because it’s not like Lie With Me—this one’s not as passionate. But it’s still about love or trying to love, with a coming-of-age character trying to figure it out.
Vincent’s relationships with Marcel and Arthur are complicated and painful. Marcel offers mentorship but becomes manipulative, while Arthur, deeply scarred by the war, can’t fully connect with Vincent. Their attempts at love are fragile, and despite their longing for connection, they can’t truly heal from their trauma.
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn world, In the Absence of Men explores the emotional distance between the characters and how their pasts shape their present. It’s a haunting, quiet story about love, loss, and the difficulty of connecting when everything around you feels broken.
The story feels like a memory, with love letters exchanged and a devastating twist at the end. What’s so heartbreaking is that the characters� struggles match the world they live in—war, loss, and emotional coldness leave them unable to fully reach for the love they need.
In the Absence of Men is a quiet, emotionally raw book that sticks with me. It’s about love, isolation, and the things we long for but can’t always get.
Vincent’s relationships with Marcel and Arthur are complicated and painful. Marcel offers mentorship but becomes manipulative, while Arthur, deeply scarred by the war, can’t fully connect with Vincent. Their attempts at love are fragile, and despite their longing for connection, they can’t truly heal from their trauma.
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn world, In the Absence of Men explores the emotional distance between the characters and how their pasts shape their present. It’s a haunting, quiet story about love, loss, and the difficulty of connecting when everything around you feels broken.
The story feels like a memory, with love letters exchanged and a devastating twist at the end. What’s so heartbreaking is that the characters� struggles match the world they live in—war, loss, and emotional coldness leave them unable to fully reach for the love they need.
In the Absence of Men is a quiet, emotionally raw book that sticks with me. It’s about love, isolation, and the things we long for but can’t always get.
December 14, 2024
DNFed
Sometimes you just have to choose your battles.
Sometimes you just have to choose your battles.
March 31, 2025
“Вс� завжди починається спочатку. Так ми знаходимо зрештою спокій�.�
хоча ще після прочитання анотації я розуміла, чим все закінчиться, однак, виявляється, я була попереджена, але не озброєна; шкоди було не уникнути
хоча ще після прочитання анотації я розуміла, чим все закінчиться, однак, виявляється, я була попереджена, але не озброєна; шкоди було не уникнути
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