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Kolkhoz by Emmanuel Carrère review
The author of The Adversary and Yoga unearths a history that includes the Nazis, Russia, and the Académie Française
TL;DR
- Emmanuel Carrère's memoir, "Kolkhoz," is a homage to his parents, Hélène and Louis, and their unusual life together.
- Hélène, a historian and "perpetual secretary" of the Académie Française, had a tumultuous early life marked by stateless poverty and family tragedy.
- The book explores Hélène's adventurous spirit, including an attempted kidnapping and her intellectual ambition, contrasted with her family life where she implemented a strict "kolkhoz" system for her children.
- Carrère details his own struggles with bipolar disorder, his relationships, and his complicated relationship with his mother, which was strained by his decision to publish a book about her father against her wishes.
- The memoir touches on Hélène's later years, her loyalty to Russia, and her differing political views from her son, who is opposed to Putin.
- Despite family conflicts and differing perspectives, the book is presented as an honest and intimate account, celebrating Hélène's legacy and intellectual achievements.