A beautiful and very young prostitute
gets killed in the beginning of “Proud Beggars” which sets off a
journey of self-discovery. Also everyone is likable, including the
young girl's murderer. Welcome to the world of Albert Cossery!
The narrative takes place in what we
believe is in Egypt – perhaps Cairo? Cossery is from the
Middle-East but lived in Paris most of his life. A hardcore member
of the St-Germain crowd, Cossery is a writer of incredible charm,
that is full of poison. What is fascinating is that via this novel
we enter into a world of beggars – where it is not only a choice
for some, but a desired lifestyle. Poverty worn as a sign of pride.
Of course there is anxiety in knowing where one is going to sleep
that night, or where the next meal will come from (if any at all),
but the sense of freedom that goes with the lifestyle is the
addiction where these characters roam with great joy.
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| Albert Cossery |
The detective who is investigating the
murder, is a closeted homosexual who is deeply attracted to the
people he's after. A strange dance or chess game with all the
characters who are expressing a certain school of existentialism –
Cossery, as a writer, has the knack of expressing a culture in a
light hearted way but again, with a sense of great wit, and this book
is a very dark comedy. The murder was committed with no real
purpose, which is shocking, but what is more shocking is how the
characters react to the crime. A very strange book in that sense
and it reminds me a bit of Paul Bowles' work. Maybe because its a
strange culture to me, but the surrealism of the scenery and the joy
that the beggars (at least the main characters) have with life is
kind of upsetting. This is another remarkable novel by a great
writer.
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| Albert Cossery |
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| Albert Cossery |
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| The Dandy Albert Cossery |
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