Histoire de la violence

Édouard Louis recounts the night of Christmas Eve 2012, when he met a man named Reda on the street and invited him to his apartment in Paris. After a night of conversation and sex, Reda robbed and raped him, and tried to strangle him. The narrative is built from the perspective of Louis's sister, who listens to him telling the story to others, and of Louis himself, who describes the visit to the police and the doctor. It also deals with how the author tells and retells the story.

The book is a novel based on the real event, and examines the aftermath of violence and the effect of racism and class. It suits readers who want a frank and thoughtful look at trauma.

Deep, inward-looking and thought-provoking; a moderate read.

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