Under the skin of Paul West décembre 3 2007
Publié par jing in : Mes papiers au CFJ, Interviews , rétrolienThe « Merde » series being a bestseller in England and in France, Stephen Clark succeeds in making the story of Paul West–and partly of himself, a mirror for English and French, both of whom want to look at the other side.
« It’s fantastic ! » Stephen Clark gives a good mark without hesitation to his 14-year-old life experience in France, as an Englishman. Sitting in a Parisien café, opposite the smoke-filled section, his casual wear and dark blue scarf make him no different from the French around him. Only the no-joking facial expression and the rather hilarious jokes would remind you of his « black humour » - a cliché for her Majesty’s subjects’ idea of what is amusing.
« Clichés are true »
« I don’t write clichés in my books, » he says, no jokes. His clichés-are-clichés-because-they-are-true logic would make you feel absolutely stupid to have mentioned this word. Of course we all have stereoptyed visions about others—do not mention you are English. If you think this way, here are some examples he cites that you may wonder if you have come across : In a restaurant, when being asked « is there any no-smoking section », the waiter would say no, turn around and walk away ; In a Parisian bank, when the woman in front of the counter is being asked « Why are you being so impolite to me, I’m the client », she would say « Sorry, Madam, if you don’t like our bank, choose another bank. »
These are called the Parisian bad service stereotypes, but they do exist and they just happened to you.
« I try to make everything exaggerated, but based on reality » he explained, « Paul West is a character in the novel, but he is not me… » is this another joke ? If you look closely at the story , you’ll find some traces of his own life. When he tells you that he used to try to run a business—to be a publisher, but he stopped as the bureaucracy in France is so complicated and so expensive, wouldn’t that remind you of some poor Paul West, back from his trouble-filled holiday in central France, who tries to start selling English teas but gets into trouble again with the « Ministère de la Francophonie » who forces him to translate his menu into French, even « sandwich » or « a cup of tea » ?
« We love each other’s country, but we just don’t admit it »
It’s easier to have a business in England, maybe that’s what you’d conclude from the story he tells you. But think about it, « God save la France » sold 200,000 copies whilst a normal first novel sells only 1,000 copies, why this French interest in books written by the English? « One year in the Merde » also become a bestseller and a must-have book in England, why do the English want to know what Paul West’s life is like in France ?
Funnily enough, maybe we have to admit, that despite the « clichés » that the English and the French have about each other, they are still interested in each other and indeed fascinated by each other.
« We love each other’s country, but we just don’t admit it » Stephen said. « That’s why I said my days in France have been fantastic… from my very first job » he added. « In France, the company has no stress, people have no stress at all, they work and they take holidays, that was fantastic. » he smiled, remembering the old days.
Obviously, he doesn’t like Nicolas Sarkozy who vows to change this France he loves so much. For him, France remains a slow country, and it never changes and it doesn’t need to change.
« The fascination between the English and the French is as great as ever. »Stephen doesn’t try to hide his affection, « history changes, politics changes but the English and the French are still fascinated by each other. » he confirmed, it’s not a joke.
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