Born in 1948, Pascal Quignard has written more than seventy books. Historical or contemporary novel, essay, tale, fragment, autobiography compose a masterful work, rewarded by the Goncourt prize, the French language prize, the grand prize of the novel of the French Academy and the Prince Pierre of Monaco prize. Pascal Quignard is also a cellist and thirty years after his great success “Tous les matins du monde”, he publishes a new novel bathed in baroque music. (Replay)
“Any man, any woman, who assigns an end to love, does not love. Any human or animal who sets a goal for love does not love. Who imposes a content, does not like. Who dreams of a hearth, a house, a child, gold, a reward, does not love. He who runs after reputation, social ascendancy, horse, car, honour, does not love. Who aims for the champion of the tournament, religious integrity, cleanliness, delicacy of food, order of the place, care of the garden, does not like. He who claims to introduce himself into a group to which he does not belong, if only to achieve the surest objectives—the mother in the man, the maternal grandfather in the woman—does not like . He who seeks culture, virtuosity, courage, experience, pride, knowledge, does not love. In the embrace God and I are dead. » (Presentation of Gallimard editions)