Summary of The TyrantÂ
After the death of his father, Jean Calmet, a Swiss teacher of Latin in Lausanne, believes he will finally be free to live his own life. However, he soon finds himself haunted by the feeling that his late father keeps watching his actions, thoughts, and desires, leaving him consumed by guilt and shame.
Reasons to read The Tyrant
“The Tyrant” is a psychological novel exploring a man’s conflicted emotions towards his late father, who continues to dominate his life even after death. The first English translation of this book was published under the title “A Father’s Love”. Jacques Chessex was a renowned Swiss novelist, poet, and painter. “The Tyrant” won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 1973. Chessex received many other literary accolades, including the 1963 Swiss Schiller Prize for his novel “La tête ouverte”, the 1999 Grand Prix de la langue française, and the 2007 Grand Prix Jean Giono for his novel “Le vampire de Ropraz”.
Setting: Lausanne (Switzerland)
Novel set in Switzerland: Lausanne (Gymnase de la Cité de Lausanne)
Original title: L’Ogre
Year of publication: 1973
Nr of pages: 217
