The Curse of the Snail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Author | Philippe Caroit |
|---|---|
| Language | French |
| Publisher | Anne Carrière |
Publication date | November 2020 |
| Publication place | France |
| Pages | 192 |
| ISBN | 978-2-84337-993-2 |
The Curse of the Snail (French: La malédiction de l'escargot) is a novel written by Philippe Caroit and published in 2020 by the Anne Carrière publishing house.[1] It is the author's debut novel, who is a renowned French actor and painter.[2]
Hugo Talmont is a popular actor who has just been left by Olivia, his partner, as he refused to give her the child she dreams of. As a supporter of degrowth, he does not want to take part in the demographic explosion that is suffocating our planet. Another reason is that he has not healed the wounds of his childhood, having been abandoned by his father, who is spending his final days in an elderly care home near Paris. Hugo only feels at ease on stage or when he’s jogging.
One evening, a goth-punk teenager named Candice comes to see him at the theater, claiming to be his daughter. She will prove this to him. The problem is that Hugo has never known her mother and never had a relationship with her. And yet, he is indeed the father of this strange girl, who will slowly begin to infiltrate his life and cause chaos. Eventually, they will unravel this.[1]
Themes
Fatherhood and Identity: Hugo's discovery that he is the father of a teenager named Candice raises questions about his identity and the choices he has made in life, calling into question his beliefs about fatherhood.[3]
Antinatalism and Ecology: Hugo expresses his environmental concerns, which influence his decision not to have children.[3]