Memoirs of a Breton Peasant

Translation of the book “Mémoire d’un paysan bas-breton”, this novel is a synthesis of a 4000 pages journal, written by Jean-Marie Déguignet from the Quimper region, born into rural poverty in 1834, he escapes Brittany by joining the French Army in 1854, and over the next fourteen years he fights in the Crimean war, attends Napoleon III’s coronation ceremonies, supports Italy’s liberation struggle, and defends the hapless French puppet emperor Maximilian in Mexico. He teaches himself Latin, French, Italian and Spanish and reads extensively on history, philosophy, politics, and literature. He returns home to live as a farmer and tobacco-seller, eventually falling back into dire poverty. Throughout the tale, Deguignet’s freethinking, almost anarchic views put him ahead of his time and often (sadly, for him) out of step with his contemporaries.

This narrative was drawn from them and became a surprise bestseller when published in France in 1998.
The good news, is that now the book (produced by Bernez Rouz) is distributed in English (thanks to Linda Asher) and in the US (thanks to Seven Stories Press), you can buy it online!

* The book will be part of our raffle on November 5th!