Disturbance

"In Disturbance — a literary sensation in France when it was published last year — the critic documents, in excruciating details, his physical and emotional reconstruction to understand the man he has become.... Lançon’s memoir, subtly translated by Steven Rendall, gives an uneasy feeling of voyeurism at times, such as when he depicts his surroundings once silence fell on the murder scene — the open skull of his friend lying nearby; the discovery of his own injuries; shreds of flesh in place of his lower jaw. And yet, amid the horrific images, literature arises. It is a process that leaves the reader shaken and is one that Lançon admits he himself fails to grasp." * The Financial Times *
“[Disturbance] is a fascinating and often sobering read, one that offers insight into human fragility as well as resilience.” * World Literature Today *

Lançon's reaction has been to write a series of columns of power and grace. With a kind of detached, chilled compassion he has detailed the long, agonising rebuilding of a face and a life: the sequence of operations; his first confident speech; the first time he recognised himself in the mirror; his first shave.

Lançon writes brilliantly about the nurses, the doctors and the policemen who now protect him. It is astonishing writing. Bleak yet warm and triumphantly human.

-- Robert McLiam Wilson * The Irish Times *
“When two terrorists attacked the satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, journalist Philippe Lançon, though seriously wounded, was among the survivors. In this extraordinary memoir which moves back and forth across his whole life, and delves deep into his creative influences, he writes about what it took to rebuild his life both in reality, and on the page.” * The Booksellers (Editor's Choice) *
"Intense." * Les Inrockuptibles *
Best book of the year 2018 * LIRE Magazine *

French journalist Philippe Lançon — who was injured in the deadly attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015 — has won an acclaimed literary prize.

Appearing in public for the first time since the incident, Lançon collected the Femina prize for his book Le Lambeau in Paris.


The book details the terrorist attack, which saw two Islamic militants shoot dead 12 people and injure 11 others, as well as Lançon’s slow recovery after being shot in the face, leaving him in a critical condition.

* The Independent *