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Movement Through the End / Mouvement par la fin
Excerpted from his postface to the original French text and included as this bilingual edition's preface, the late Jacques Dupin How best to approach this short book, a book that burns and freezes, and whose title is abruptly completed, as if torn apart, beaten to a pulp, by the a portrait of pain ? From that point, beyond that point, here, pain is a gaze. A gaze that recognizes itself, growing deeper and lighter when the words that traverse it scrape on the paper. The first word, the point of origin, leaps up from the instant of death and fades away in torpor. Notes from an anachronistic diary, splinters torn from the suffering body, sparks scattered in the air. Far removed from any narcissistic complaisance, this portrait of pain is a constant transcribed day after day from what the body and the mind endure in the ordeal. The realistic notation, impeccably close and precise, opens to the outer world, exalts in the contemplation of the sea or the night, a tree, a cloud, the flight of a sparrow hawk above the walls. The linked chain of crises, of testing treatment, of injections constantly renewed as they project a dim light, provoking the exorable climb toward the light. A decantation that suddenly crystalizes and loosens the oppression. The tortured body reinvents, in order to stay alert, the escape route through an open window and the reconciliation with space.
104 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published November 7, 2014
2 people want to read
About the author
Philippe Rahmy
12 books1 followerPhilippe Rahmy was a Swiss writer, poet, and essayist born on June 5, 1965, in Geneva, Switzerland. Writing primarily in French, he emerged as a significant voice in contemporary literature, known for his introspective and poetic style. Rahmy’s life was profoundly shaped by his struggle with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition that left his bones brittle and caused frequent fractures. This physical fragility influenced his writing, which often explored themes of vulnerability, resilience, and the human condition. Despite his health challenges, Rahmy pursued a rich intellectual life, earning a degree in literature from the University of Geneva and later studying Egyptology and art history, fields that informed the depth and texture of his work.
Rahmy’s literary career gained recognition with his poetry collections, such as Mouvement par la fin (2005), which won the Prix des Charmettes/Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and his prose works, including the critically acclaimed novel Allegra(2016).
His writing often blended personal reflection with broader philosophical and social questions, earning praise for its lyrical precision and emotional resonance. Rahmy was also an active member of the literary community, contributing essays and articles to various publications and co-founding the literary website remue.net. His work was deeply rooted in the French-speaking literary tradition of Switzerland, yet it resonated universally, touching readers with its exploration of pain, beauty, and human connection.
Beyond his literary contributions, Rahmy was a cultural figure who engaged with the world through residencies and collaborations, including a notable stay in Shanghai that inspired his travelogue Béton armé (2013), which won the Prix Wepler. His writing often reflected a fascination with the intersection of the personal and the political, as seen in his reflections on disability, urban life, and globalized society.
Tragically, Rahmy’s life was cut short when he passed away on October 1, 2017, at the age of 52. His legacy endures through his poignant and thought-provoking body of work, which continues to inspire readers and writers alike in the French-speaking world and beyond.
Rahmy’s literary career gained recognition with his poetry collections, such as Mouvement par la fin (2005), which won the Prix des Charmettes/Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and his prose works, including the critically acclaimed novel Allegra(2016).
His writing often blended personal reflection with broader philosophical and social questions, earning praise for its lyrical precision and emotional resonance. Rahmy was also an active member of the literary community, contributing essays and articles to various publications and co-founding the literary website remue.net. His work was deeply rooted in the French-speaking literary tradition of Switzerland, yet it resonated universally, touching readers with its exploration of pain, beauty, and human connection.
Beyond his literary contributions, Rahmy was a cultural figure who engaged with the world through residencies and collaborations, including a notable stay in Shanghai that inspired his travelogue Béton armé (2013), which won the Prix Wepler. His writing often reflected a fascination with the intersection of the personal and the political, as seen in his reflections on disability, urban life, and globalized society.
Tragically, Rahmy’s life was cut short when he passed away on October 1, 2017, at the age of 52. His legacy endures through his poignant and thought-provoking body of work, which continues to inspire readers and writers alike in the French-speaking world and beyond.
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February 26, 2015
In the end, his pain was too much for me. I couldn't get through the visceral, gory details, and I didn't feel compelled to obligate myself to. If you're less squeamish than me, though, you might find it a very impressive work of intimate and sustained suffering.
Displaying 1 of 1 review