Literature

«Le temps des mots à voix basse», or the art of being concise and poetic

2 reading minutes

written by Alexandre Wälti · December 25, 2018 · 0 comment

«Le temps des mots à voix basse», ou l’art d’être concis et poétique

Tuesday's books - Alexandre Wälti

The quality of a book is not always measured by its thickness. Of course, 600 pages can provide a better psychological construction of the characters or a more elaborate plot than less than 100. However, Anne-Lise Grobéty, writing for a young audience, has opted for key moments in the service of the text and emotion. She succeeds in hitting the nail on the head in A time for low-voiced words.

Anton, the poet-grocer, and Heinzi, the poet-accountant, live peacefully in Germany, sharing a love of poetry in the garden by the beehives. The narrator, Anton's son, talks about how he can't part with Heinzi's son Oskar. He's a true friend! He details their games and mischief, while being influenced by the historical context in spite of himself.

«Their grand poetic flights of fancy were increasingly replaced by long, half-voiced discussions in which I felt vapors of anxiety wafting up.»

Anne-Lise Grobéty's novel is set in the early days of the Second World War. This initially distant threat gradually influences the evolution of the four characters. This is neither a long novel nor an exercise in style. It was not published by Editions Joie de Lire for nothing, as the text is brief and written for both teenage and adult readers.

«We had just entered the classroom. The teacher said to Oskar, very loudly:
- You, take your things and move to the back. Kurt, come and take his place at the front!»

This is how the first signs of Nazism enter everyday life, disrupting the reading experience. The narrator observes small changes without realizing the great upheavals underway. Overnight, his father no longer sees Oskar's father at the bottom of the garden, and their discussions become less and less colorful. A time for quiet words.

«- Here we are: out of friendship you would put your own life in danger to try and save mine? Do you know a true friend who would ask such a thing? If you, my friend, wanted to take risks for me, it would be my duty to refuse your help. To know that you, at least, live in safety would be a little balm on my unhappiness.»

A doomed friendship or a collateral victim of history in the making? Anton and Heinzi ask themselves brutal questions. They must choose between maintaining a bond or parting forever. These questions mirror the friendship between their two sons.

Anne-Lise Grobéty has succeeded in tackling serious issues while maintaining a poetic lightness of touch. A balance that is as fragile as the relationship between the two families. A precious little book, the perfect introduction to literature. A first read that calls for others, Heinrich Heine in mind.

«What early bird confused their words at times?... I can't remember.
I only remember that the hour had suddenly become serious. That it weighed heavily in their mouths. That the words clung to their lips as if caught in the teeth of a comb.»