Fanny Desarzens

Swiss Literature Award 2023

BAK / Julien Chavaillaz

Fanny Desarzens
Galel

It is a story of friendship, of silence and of glances between three men who share a love of the mountains. A timeless tale that moves slowly, like the roped team that the mountain guide brings to the summit. The pace and spare language of this novel match the steady step that is matched by the rhythmic breathing of the mountaineers. The words clearly and poetically tell of the lives of the men who work in the valley in order to be close to the mountains in summer, and of how their eyes “draw from the surroundings”. Fanny Desarzens has written a luminous present-day parable reminiscent of Ramuz.

BAK / Julien Chavaillaz

Galel

Editions Slatkine, Genève
ISBN 9782832110898

Translation rights: cderrier@slatkine.com

Photos: BAK / Julien Chavaillaz