The Observer takes a closer look at the Big Frankfurt Book, Jonathan Littell’s Les Bienveillantes, which has been published in French and will be translated to English for 2008 publication (McClelland & Stewart has Canadian rights). The book is the fictional memoir of an SS officer, and it appears to be, um, occupying France’s literary landscape this fall. Says The Observer‘s Ben Hutchinson: “Sales of this apparent debut novel have left more celebrated authors complaining that their new books have been squeezed out; its publisher Gallimard has been forced to use paper reserved for the new Harry Potter book to rush through a second edition.” Hutchinson also suggests that the book deserves much of the attention it’s gotten: “Despite its status as a cultural event, it is as a classical work of literature, an epic journey to the heart of darkness, that Littell’s novel ultimately convinces.”

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Click here for the Observer article