From noir fiction to philosophical allegory: is Philippe Claudel a whistleblower?

Abstract

This article seeks to highlight the paradigm shift in Philippe Claudel's writing style, which is evident in his two most recent novels –Crépuscule in particular and L'Archipel du Chien– as the beginning of a new cycle. First, we will examine the importance of the detective-fiction structure, whose plot allows the author to engage his readers and focus their attention on current social issues underlying these mysteries. To do this, we will draw on the theories of Alain Pagès, who had already identified this process in the work of Émile Zola, a writer who, under the guise of detective novels, denounced the underlying social violence of the time. In Claudel's case, we will identify his short-story collection Inhumaines, published in 2017, as a turning point in which dystopia is seen as a catalyst for critical awareness. We will finally argue that, in his most recent work, the themes he chooses lead him to reshape his writing style, lending it a more pronounced philosophical dimension within narratives that are notably more allegorical in nature.