Our colleague Thierry Jan is also a writer. He has just published a new work, titled The Divorce of the Franks. It’s an opportunity to discuss with him this new literary “fatigue”…
Hello Thierry, The Divorce of the Franks! Why this title? A divorce is a break.
You just answered the question. Charles the Bald is both King of France, Germany, and Emperor of the Holy Empire. After him, on both sides of the Rhine, disparate destinies will unfold. The two kingdoms will clash for 1000 years.
But Germany, as we know it today, did not exist?
Indeed, but never again will the two sides of the Rhine be united. The Rhine, even today, even with Europe, remains a border.
Is this book dedicated to Charles the Bald?
No, I actually explain that in the preface. It’s the young King Louis V, betrayed by a treacherous archbishop, who prompted me to write this work.
Tell us….
The book?….No, I made a memorandum on the Carolingians, and it seemed to me that Charles the Bald was the pivot of this dynasty, the title: The Divorce of the Franks was self-evident.
Have you planned a sequel?….I mean other memoranda?
Yes, I can already announce the second volume for early 2017, it will be dedicated to the Capetians. Its title: The Capetians or the Assertion of Royal Power. I am already working on the third, dedicated to the Valois.
One memorandum per dynasty, if I understand correctly?
Exactly, I will finish with the Merovingians.
Why finish with the first dynasty?
Because of or thanks to Louis V. It was from readings about this king that I began this work, as he was Carolingian, so I started with them, and it seemed like a strong symbol to end with the Merovingians.
After the kings of France, other projects?
Only ideas, I’m thinking about the great figures of history.
So, no more detective novels?
There are two or three that are finished, but lack proofreading. I felt like changing, two novels, a short story, five detective novels, I have a novel that is running through my mind.
You’re quite eclectic?
That’s one way to see it.
Have you always loved writing, or is it a chapter of your life?
A chapter of my life! Our existence is made up of many chapters; that’s its spice and essence. I’ve always loved writing. I remember the title of a notebook I wrote as a teenager: San Théophilos, the story of a family setting out on an adventure on a sailboat just before World War II, unfortunately, I lost that notebook and many others as well.
Perhaps you will rewrite it?
It’s impossible, it would be with adult words.
