The Movement of the Earth, André Stil

On the eve of his life's twilight, the narrator, whom everyone will recognize as André Stil, scours his memory, much like others scour the countryside. The book opens with the murder of his son, Simon, barely an adult. Yet, time passes, and the earth continues its journey. The narrator: "That same morning (the morning of the murder), for the first time, I see and feel the movement of the earth. Like everyone else, I know it rotates, but I've lived my life without having the slightest impression of it. And how many other essential things?" Indeed, from childhood, a thousand memories emerge, which are the very flesh and spirit of the narrator, finally becoming himself. Here is life with its games, its loves, a thousand stories; here is mortal danger, during a serious illness; here is the magnificent country of Aspres, in Roussillon; here is Alicia, finally, the woman, the one who embraces the movement of the earth... This book of life's twilight, yes, but how the earth moves and how beautiful it is!"