Vincent Delecroix's "Small Boat" is a powerful and unsettling novel, longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025. It's a fictionalized account inspired by a real-life tragedy in November 2021 when a dinghy carrying migrants capsized in the Channel, resulting in 27 deaths. The novel is narrated by a French coastguard operator who received calls from the sinking boat. Accused of negligence, she staunchly refuses to shoulder sole blame, arguing that responsibility extends far beyond her actions to wider societal indifference, systemic failures, and the crises driving migration. Delecroix masterfully explores themes of individual complicity, collective apathy, and the complex ethical dilemmas of modern society, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about their own role as "spectators" to such tragedies.
About Vincent Delecroix
Vincent Delecroix is a French author known for his introspective storytelling and poetic prose. Born in Paris in 1975, Delecroix developed a fascination with philosophical themes which permeate his works. He gained critical acclaim for his debut novel 'Les Mirages', a haunting exploration of memory and identity. Delecroix's writing is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and intellectual depth, drawing comparisons to literary luminaries like Marcel Proust and Albert Camus. His works often delve into the complexities of human relationships and the fragility of existence, captivating readers with their profound insights and emotional resonance. Delecroix continues to be a prominent figure in contemporary French literature.
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