Le Rivage des Syrtes – the inclined History
Le Rivage des Syrtes – l’Histoire en biais

Summary/Abstract: Le Rivage des Syrtes may be considered a novel dealing with politics and ideologies, even if Julien Gracq denied any form of political engagement. The author suggests a certain vision on the fatality of wars, somewhat influenced by Spengler’s Decline of the Occident. Le Rivage des Syrtes seems to be a historical novel ; nevertheless, the reader faces an ambiguous scenery which could refer to decaying Venice, to ancient Byzantium or to modern France during « la drôle de guerre », on the edges of World War II. Thus, the hidden plots aiming at power, the duplicities, the cowardly attitudes, the obscure diplomacy of the enemies draw up a fascinating political background.

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