This novel is in my opinion the result of many questions the author himself in his writing. I do not doubt that he himself had to write this list of 52 things he will not, including one to write novels. Why think that? Simply because the analysis in fact Barrico through its main character, the English novelist named Gwyn, is simply staggering truth. Paul Valéry said that "he alone is capable of true style, which is capable of a simple and naked style". One would think that this lesson has been well understood by the hero of the novel, which decides to abandon the romantic fiction to engage in the harsh reality of -littéraire- portrait -peinture- but built like a portrait. From workshop at light easel, models, music, atmosphere for the model to be true, and proves that the portrait is actually a picture of the profound reality of the individual, and be interpreted by the artist. Very elegantly, Barrico leads us into this adventure whose hero is fantastic, secret, obscure even when he lies, when he disappears to reappear better. I admit I was very seduced by this novel that rings true, that says a lot about the questions of the artist, which exposes the primary function of art: we do understand the inexplicable. A true literary success!
