Society

Daniel Simon, May 68 in Neuchâtel

5 reading minutes

written by Le Regard Libre · 24 April 2022 · 0 comment

May 68 in Neuchâtel © Université de Neuchâtel

Le Regard Libre N° 84 - Nathalie Simon

Here's a special portrait. That of my father, Daniel Simon, who passed on to me, among many other things, a passion for words that dance on white pages. Here's a look back at his career.

Among many unforgettable memories, I especially cherish the love of reading he instilled in me. First on his lap, then sitting beside him, as we shared the dialogue. Later, we shared books and our thoughts on them. Still later, we collaborated on the publication of his second book.

«Writing is a way of speaking without being interrupted,» wrote Jules Renard. After 33 years dedicated to teaching French and history at the Lycée Blaise-Cendrars in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Daniel Simon has devoted much of his retirement to writing. He revisited manuscripts he had written many years earlier, and that is how The day his life changed forever, published in 2019 by Editions Mon Village.

In this novel set in the real-life Neuchâtel of the 1970s, the author shares with us the bitter disillusionment of being laid off and then spending the first year of unemployment as a man in his forties for whom, until then, «the factory» had become the absolute foundation of his existence as a man.

In 2020, he completed The Formative Years, a coming-of-age novel that blends fiction and reality. Although completed, the manuscript remained hidden from readers for many long months. Stricken with Alzheimer’s disease, my father—who was by nature so brave and determined—confided in me that he no longer had the strength to embark on the winding path leading to the publication of a book. It is difficult to see the people we love forced to give up—and even more so when it is one’s father.

So I took it upon myself to act as his literary agent—he smiled at the mention of that term—and orchestrated the self-publication of his book, leading to its distribution online and in local bookstores starting in the summer of 2021. Thanks to everyone who believed in his work, we were able to bring about this final, wonderful achievement together—one he could be proud of.

We were able to count on the invaluable support of loved ones, particularly his loyal friend Jacques, as well as from organizations such as Jeune Consulting, the Neuchâtel-based student enterprise, which is committed to supporting local initiatives, and its members, of whom I was one.

My father finally taught me that you can convey meaning without using words. I had read countless dialogues—whether as a child sitting on my father’s lap or now as an adult. And just when I thought he unfortunately had nothing left to teach me, he conveyed to me—through words silenced by pain—the truth that the language of the heart speaks the loudest.

And it's the one with the most durable ink.

For my Dad, Daniel Simon (Jan. 1, 1945 – Jan. 28, 2022)

The Formative Years

In his coming-of-age novel, Daniel Simon tells the story of an era and the pivotal years of a generation, from 1964 to 1976 The Formative Years. The protagonist, Philippe, is in his early 20s at the time of the events of May 1968, which he actively witnessed at the University of Neuchâtel.

His family background prepared him for this kind of commitment, making him fundamentally anti-authoritarian and committed to the ideal of an egalitarian society. But those formative years were also a time of searching for love and shared friendships. Before entering the workforce, Philippe chose to spend a year and a half in London, immersing himself in the city’s vibrant cultural scene.

After returning to Neuchâtel and getting married, he spent two years with his wife in Bogotá, where he witnessed the insecurity stemming from stark social contrasts. He returned with a film about this city «built by the poor to serve the rich,» which he co-directed with a young filmmaker from French-speaking Switzerland. His formative years came to an end with his return to Switzerland.

Although the book is set in real places, situations, or events and is inspired by the author’s own experiences, it belongs to the genre of fiction, which allows it to occupy a space between reality and fiction. The novel also draws close to reality through its commitment to accuracy. The author draws on his memories, as well as on written sources (correspondence, newspaper articles).

His narrative is meticulous and precise. The author places great emphasis on the setting, describing in detail not only the Neuchâtel scene but also the places his protagonist discovers—particularly during his travels around Bogotá and throughout Latin America—until his return to Europe aboard a transatlantic liner.

Nathalie Simon is a marketing project manager. She holds a master’s degree in digital communication from UniGE and previously served as the communications and events manager at Jeune Consulting, the student-run company affiliated with the University of Neuchâtel and HE-Arc.