Belgian author, Vincent Engel - “Fear of Paradise” Book Launch and Talk (NYC, May 2015)
New York City, UNIS (the United Nations International School), May 26, 2015
“Fear of Paradise” is the first of Vincent’s works translated from the French by Richard Kutner (“La peur du Paradis” (Lattès, 2009)). Fear of Paradise is a story of longing and missed opportunities, separation, the passage of time, and the unforeseen consequences of innocent decisions. Set against the rise of Fascism in 1920s Italy, Vincent Engel’s haunting novel takes us on a journey through a wild and romantic landscape where two lonely adolescents forge a strange and wonderful friendship. Between the sea and the forest in the heart of Puglia lies the village of San Nidro, a village frozen in time. Here, Basilio and Lucia swear their love and loyalty until an irreparable act sets them on a collision course with the tragic reality of history. (Extract from book description on Vincent’s website).
(…) Is it an illusion to think one can make childhood dreams a reality? Are we obstacles to our own happiness? From the first page to the last of his latest novel, Fear of Paradise, Vincent Engel explores these haunting questions. (…). The reader comes away inspired by the knowledge that a few pure, radiant beings can keep their dreams of love and happiness intact and refuse to follow the horde of sad, servile men and women who haunt the dark pages of history. There is always a glimmer of hope … (Extract from book review – Annick Dor, Le Vif / L’Express, May 15, 2009).
Winner of many literary awards, Vincent Engel is a Belgian author of essays, novels, and plays as well as a professor of literature and history at the University of Louvain and IHECS. He is also a literary critics and chronicler in the Belgian newspaper Le Soir. His writing examines memory and the often conflicting links between rebellions and revolutions.
Vincent Engel is a fervent defender of Belgian literature.
