Dawn Dusk or Night: My Year With Nicolas Sarkozy

by Yasmina Reza

An enormous success in France and a media sensation around the world, Yasmina Reza’s Dawn, Dusk or Night will startle English-language readers with its utterly unorthodox (and candid and witty) portrait of a man in his quest for ultimate power. In 2006, Yasmina Reza, the most celebrated playwright in France, asked Nicolas Sarkozy a simple question: Would he allow her to spend the next year with him and his team as he campaigned for the French presidency? His response was an unqualified yes. To the alarm of his advisers, and the consternation of many of her friends, who feared she was making a pact with the devil, she picked up her notebook and her pencil, and off she went.

It is not enough to say that she was an observer of Sarkozy’s rise to power. Rather, hers is the account of a brilliant woman of letters dancing in orbit with the most powerful man in France. Their casual exchanges, her remarkable insights, their phenomenal experience exist as a play of words and glances, framed as scenes from a headlong drama. Through the greenrooms, bus rides, and flights, along the campaign trail; in strategy sessions and at meetings with heads of state;, in all hours of the day and night, they develop a relationship that knows no parallel, bridging the arts and politics, abiding within a purely intellectual sphere without judgment, conflict, or competition.

The groundbreaking Dawn, Dusk or Night defies genre to offer a spellbinding look at the interplay between two formidable champions bound by intellect and nation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, France, Memoir, Biography

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Yasmina Reza began work as an actress, appearing in several new plays as well as in plays by Molière and Marivaux. In 1987 she wrote Conversations after a Burial, which won the Molière Award for Best Author. Following this, she translated Kafka's Metamorphosis for Roman Polanski and was nominated for a Molière Award for Best Translation. Her second play, Winter Crossing, won the 1990 Molière for Best Fringe Production, and her next play The Unexpected Man, enjoyed successful productions in England, France, Scandinavia, Germany and New York. In 1995, Art premiered in Paris and went on to win the Molière Award for Best Author. Since then it has been produced world-wide and translated into 20 languages. The London production received the 1996-97 Olivier Award and Evening Standard Award. Screenwriting credits include See You Tomorrow, starring Jeanne Moreau and directed by Didier Martiny. In September 1997, her first novel, Hammerklavier, was published.

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about Sarkozy which offers no historical or social context, no political analysis, no discussion of the issues whatsoever? Ok, I'm not going to criticise Reza for the book she didn't write, and I can see potential in the idea of trying to draw a portrait of the man without letting all that messy politics stuff get in the way, but this is still desperately thin. It reads like an unedited notebook. Nearly two hundred pages of random jottings and observations with no connective tissue, which would have been better off distilled into a magazine article. There are some amusing moments, and the last few pages finally give us a fascinating glimpse into what's really driving the newly elected French president, but it's too little, too late.

[Gianluca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questa edizione italiana meriterebbe una ristampa. Anche se apparentemente datato, 2007, il clima politico attraversato da Reza appare, grazie alla sua vibrante scrittura, attuale e di interesse. All'autrice di Sarkozy non preme ritrarre l'ascesa politica, ma l'uomo pieno di carisma e allo stesso bambino, capace di arguta intelligenza e allo stesso tempo di svenevoli uscite. Opposizioni che i lettori affezionati dei personaggi Reza conoscono bene. Si vive inoltre un'immersione nella vita fatta di alti e bassi di chi ambisce al potere e di chi gli vive attorno, tutti personaggi che l'autrice guarda con un perfetto sguardo da "etnografa", partecipando e allo stesso tempo distaccandosene. Qualcuno lo ristampi!

[Saleh Ka]

ا"مرد ِ تنها رویاست. توهم است. در خلوتی نمادین تجسم‌شان می‌کینم، حال آنکه مردها تظاهر به تنهایی می‌کنند. تله است. وحشی خطابشان می‌کنیم، اما وحشی‌ها تنها هستند. تردیدی نیست که در دنیای خودشان وحشی، و خارج از آن
حیواناتی دست آموزند."ا

ا"همه برای موفقیت صبح شادباش می‌گویند. باید دوباره گفت که خوب بوده. باید قبل از اینکه همه‌چیز مهو شود دوباره گفت."ا

ا"می‌گویم دنبال این نیستم که از سیاست یا قدرت بنویسم، یا حتی سیاست به عنوان شیوه‌ی زندگی. چیزی که مورد علاقه‌ی من است، تماشای مردی است که با گذر زمان به رقابت می‌پردازد."ا

ا"این آدم‌ها خوشبختی را نمی‌خواهند، آنها در نبرد به دنبال بخت خود هستند."ا

ا"شخصیت‌ها، در هر سنی-هیچدام جوان نیستند-در ستیزند تا درحال تغییر و تحول بمانند. و این در حال تغییر و
تحول ماندن، وسوسه‌ی همه‌ی کسانی است که به آنها نامی و صدایی داده‌ام."ا

[Shanil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

She has a tremendous gift for insight, subtle nuances and dialogue.

I had to add Kamourska to my goodreads list as I read through this as it connects with Stream of Consciousness thought well communicated to create a unique vision of relationships.

A bit disjointed but I think this added rather than took things away. Our lives are disjointed, so are my thoughts... so it reflects well.

[Neïla DRISS · Rating 1 out of 5]

J'ai pas le courage d'en lire un peu plus. J'ai persisté 2 jours, mais je ne suis pas maso.
Je regrette l'argent que j'ai mis dans l'achat de ce livre!!!

[Claudie D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Emmerdant. On ne voit vraiment pas où elle veut en venir.

[Corinna]

Les gens, une succession de prénoms. Des voix, des mains déjà oubliées.
__
Nombre de phrases sur le désir toujours plus haut que ce qui advient, nombre d'hymnes l'impatience.
__
Ce matin, premier jour de l'année, découvrant le mot de G., j'ai la preuve qu'il se pense éternel. Il ne voit pas la mort arriver. C'est un génie de la distraction. Comment fait-il?"
__
- Tu sais ton problème?
- J'en ai un?
- C'est que je t'observe beaucoup plus que tu ne le crois.
- Ce n'est pas un problème. Du moment que tu n'écris pas.
__
Aucun espace de la vie ne s'ouvre à perte de vue.
__
Mon cahier des jours derniers. Que de répétitions. Dan mon cahier, les jours s'égrenent et se confondent, frénésie monotone où cependant l'histoire s'écrit. Il n'y a de lieux dans la tragédie. Et il n'y a pas d'heures non plus. C'est l'aube, le soir ou a nuit.

[Pol · Rating 3 out of 5]

El personaje, Sarkozy, me interesaba, el libro empezaba con buen pie. Y lo leí con avidez no obstante eché en falta más detalles de la vida del personaje. No esperaba destellos de su vida presidencial que tienen un punto poético que a veces son mordaces e irónicos pero otras son fríos e ininteligibles. Un libro que se lee con facilidad pero al que se le podría haber sacado más jugo.

[Carol Dvorak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting look at Nicolas Sarkozy on the campaign trail, but I found the author's style confusing. Sometimes she was writing as an observer, in her own voice, other times she was writing his words. It was disjointed and not always clear who was speaking.

[eden ͙⁺˚*･༓☾ ͙⁺˚*･ · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf

[Alexis Rioux · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf page 75. Titre semblait prometteur, mais c’est seulement un suivi de la campagne politique de Nicolas Sarkozy en 2006-2007💀

[Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lu dans un long voyage en voiture, je l'avais pris au hasard, sans savoir que le livre serait sur Sarkozy, lecture simple et légère (même s'il faut connaître la politique française, 2005/2008) pour suivre. Surement plutôt 3 étoiles mais ayant lu le livre quasiment d'un coup sur une journée de voyage sans m'ennuyer une lecture sympathique, même si au final ce livre ne change rien, plutôt un résumer d'observations et de notes dans un cahiers, un livre qui existe sans plus.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Näytelmäkirjailija ja vasemmistolaisena kulttuuripersoonana tunnettu Yasmina Reza pääsi seuraamaan kulissien taakse Nicolas Sarkozyn presidenttikampanjaa vuoden ajan, ja kirjoitti kokemuksistaan dokumenttiromaanin "Sarastus - vuosi Nicolas Sarkozyn kanssa" (Gummerus, 2008).

Rezan kieli on lyhyttä ja korutonta. Hän hahmottelee välillä vain muutaman repliikin tai ajatuksen mittaisia tuokiokuvia presidenttikampanjasta, ja äityy välillä ruotimaan päähenkilöään hyvinkin purevaan sävyyn esittäen tämän paikoitellen kiukuttelevana ja itserakkaana hahmona.

Reza ei kuitenkaan syyllisty halpahintaiseen loanheittoon, vaan on koko teoksen ajan sellaisen yläpuolella, ja myöntääpä jonkun kerran ihailevansakin tiettyjä piirteitä Sarkozyssa.

"Kun prinssistä tulee kuningas, sanoo José Fréches, ne jotka ovat nähneet prinssin itkevän lähetetään suolakaivoksiin. Niin on ollut ikiajoista asti. Olenko minä nähnyt prinssin itkevän?", kirjoittaa Reza heti presidentinvaalien ratkettua.

Ensimmäinen ajatus on, ettei kirjailijan tarvitse olla huolissaan. Vaikka Sarkozya kuvataan negatiivisessakin valossa, niin mitään häkellyttävää ei hänen persoonastaan paljastu. Sarkozy näyttäytyy ainakin allekirjoittaneelle jokseenkin perinteisenä poliitikkona, jonka vastenmieliset luonteenpiirteet tuntuvat olevan enemmän tai vähemmän pakollisia niissä piireissä, jotka vallan ylimmälle huipulle tähtäävät.

Lukijan ei kannata unohtaa Rezan omaa poliittista taustaa, ja sitä, kuinka helppoa omien näkemysten alleviivaaminen onkaan tämäntapaista kirjaa kirjoittaessa - kenestä tahansa meistä saisi kai vuoden aikana kasattua niin hymistelevän sankarieepoksen kuin yksinomaan negatiivisiin asioihin keskittyvän paljastuskirjan. Koko totuus lienee siis jossakin Rezan ja Sarkozyn välimaastossa.

Ranskassa kirja herätti ilmestyessään melkoisesti huomiota. Suomalaiselle lukijalle tapahtumat eivät liene yhtä merkityksellisiä, vaikka Ranskan presidentistä onkin tullut jonkinlainen mediapersoona meilläkin, kiitos tämän yksityiselämässä tapahtuneiden muutosten.

Niin, yksityiselämä. Carla Brunia ei muuten mainita kirjassa kertaakaan, ja Cécilia Sarkozyn osuus jää vain muutamaan mainintaan, mikä saa lukijan väkisinkin miettimään, onko kyseessä kirjailijan puhdas hienotunteisuus vai onko jotkut asiat pidetty häneltä kuitenkin pimennossa.

Kokonaisuutena "Sarastus" on mielenkiintoinen lukukokemus, ja olisi jännittävää nähdä, millainen teos syntyisi vaikkapa jonkun kotimaisen poliitikon vaalikampanjasta - tai suostuisiko kukaan edes antamaan vastakkaista näkökantaa edustavalle toimittajalle lupaa siihen?

[Pardis · Rating 3 out of 5]

روزی پاتریک دووجان در راه مارسی به من گفته بود:قدرت مثل افق است، هر چه بیشتر نزدیک میشود، بیشتر فاصله میگیرد. اما باید چشم انداز پشت کوه را دید. شاید سفر اولیس است، سفری چون سفر او در جستجوی ریشه ها.

اما چه ریشه هایی؟ سرمزینی وجود ندارد که سرمزین نسیان و بی تفاوتی نباشد. هیچ مکان و روزی باقی نمانده. او گفته بود با گذشته اش بیگانه است. بر زمینی زاده شد که هیچ نیست، که هیچ جاست، و ایتاکایی* وجود ندارد. با وجود این درک میکنم که بتوانیم چنین نوستالژی ای داشته باشیم. دیدن، حتی اگر شده دیدن دودی که از سرزمینت برمیخیزد...واقعینی چنان که هیچ چیز دلنشین تر از میهن و والدین نیست. حس نوستالژی ای بی درمان. پشت کوه، خاطره ی عصر معجزات و جای پای ناپایدار روشنایی است، اما نه دودی است، نه چمنزار سبزی و نه حتی یقینی که چیزی وجود داشته باشد.



یاسمینا رضا، بیشت از یک سال، در همه جا و هر زمانی، نیکلا سارکوزی راه همراهی کرد و پس از وقفه ای کوتاه کتابِ "سپیده دم، عصر یا شب" را بر اساس دیده ها و شنیده های خود در طول این همراهی منتشر ساخت.

قصد رضا از نوشتن کتابی درباره‌ی سارکوزی، به‌ گفته‌ی خود، بررسی پدیده‌ای به نام "اعتیاد به قدرت و تأثیر آن بر انسان" بود و کشف این که "چه چیزی در این مقو��ه وسوسه‌کننده است". وقتی رضا این فکر را با سارکوزی در میان گذاشت، او "بی‌اندازه احساس افتخار" ‌کرد و بدون آن که با آثار رضا آشنایی داشته باشد، پیشنهادش را پذیرفت: "حتی اگر بخواهید پنبه‌ی مرا هم بزنید، باز هم باعث بیشتر شدن شهرت من خواهید شد." *



زمان زیادی از آن موقع که موئیرا این جمله را به من گفت نمی‌گذرد: "اسکندر و چنگیزخان یک زندگی واقعی را گذراندند. سرزمین‌ها را می‌بلعیدند. سپاه گسیل می‌کردند. خون راه می‌انداختند. واقعن عقب نشینی می‌کردند. واقعن پیروز می‌شدند. واقعن می‌مردند. شکست یعنی به صلابه کشیده شدن. اما سیاستمداران امروز این‌ها چگونه زندگی می‌کنند؟"

[LisaZen]

I liked Reza's idea of writing about Sarkozy concentrating only on his personality, as it appeared to the observing writer, but the book was a disappointment, because it was so damn typically French! I don't know the people who surrounded Sarkozy during his presidential campaigh and there is no introductory list of the people mentioned. So simply, the book doesn't work. The text is also very synthetic and it seems that there is a lot of hinting, irony and whatever between the lines. All the way through I had a feeling of missing the point and not understanding much of anything. I would have hoped also that Sarkozy would have been portrayed against some other people, most naturally against the people surrounding him, to give some depth and perspective to the image offered of him. A picture without a comparison isn't a picture at all. It was useless to translate this book altogether.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't pick up this book if you are looking for something that will provide you with any sort of perspective on Sarkozy's politics or even a wild look at the campaigning process (if you want a glimpse of that, watch the fantastic documentary, "The War Room" which chronicles the 1992 Clinton-Bush election).

This is classic Yasmina Reza: esoteric, vague, slightly atmospheric. It's brilliant in its portrait of a man behind the scenes, caught in snatches, just as you would expect to find a man running for president. It definitely left me wanting to know more about French politics and European politics as well. The fact that Reza is a playwright sheds further light on the staging, if you will, of this book.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I approached this book knowing nothing save Yasmina Reza's reputation as an acclaimed playwright, mostly for the savory "God of Carnage." Apparently Reza shadowed Nicolas Sarkozy as he campaigned for the presidency of France.

Stylistically I appreciated the piece, and I think it'd be very effective if I was more familiar with the subject. The theme of controlling power vs. exercising power is touched on beautifully by Reza via Sarkozy, particular at the end of the book when he speaks about seduction vs. decision.

My rating of 2 comes with the caveat that with more background knowledge it would've probably scored a 4. Reza has an eye for observation and style, but I'm afraid that narrative is crucial (at least for me) when dealing with a less than familiar subject.

[Raphael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprenant! Loin de servir la soupe à Nicolas Sarkozy, elle se révèle parfois cruelle voire pire... condescendante. Ses éloges sur le candidats sarkozy sont longs, laborieux, vagues, convenus alors que ses critiques sont rapides, vives, déguisées. Une virgule ou un adverbe suffisent à démolir le Nicolas Sarkozy. Véritable précurseure, elle a su repérer les faiblesses du Président vulgaire et hyperactif un an avant qu'elles ne soient publiées dans tous les magazines lors de sa chute dans les sondages en 2008. Elle n'hésite pas à qualifier le candidat Sarkozy de "petit garçon" alors que cette même comparaison a couté sa place à PPDA...

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nettes Buch.
Man bekommt quasi hautnah mit, wie sich ein Politiker im Wahlkampf durch den Tag bewegt... eigentlich nicht überraschend, dass es weniger um Inhalte als vielmehr um den Eindruck auf die Wählerschaft geht.

Yasmina Reza erzählt dies über viele kleine, mosaikhafte Impressionen. Hier ein Schnipsel, da ein Eindruck. Bewertungen oder gar Interpretationen findet man kaum; sie hält sich sehr zurück. Einen roten Faden gibt es lediglich über den zeitlichen Ablauf. Einen dramaturgischen Spannungsbogen hab ich nicht gefunden.

Daher: nett, auch entlarvend - aber nicht fesselnd.
Keine Zeitverschwendung, aber definitiv auch kein Muss-man-gelesen-haben.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I were Nicolas Sarkozy, I'm not sure I would be very pleased with this book. The author, Yasmina Rezy, has written a sort of stream of consciousness book about the year before Mr. Sarkozy was elected president of France. She had pretty much full access to Mr. Sarkozy and to his advisors per his direction. Hard to know if all politicians are similar but Sarkozy comes across as narcissistic and overly ambitious - not particularly intelligent and someone I don't think I'd care to know.

[Reinhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man wird an manches erinnert, was man von Sarkozy gesehen, gelesen und gehört hat, nichts wirklich Überraschendes, der Reiz der Macht, die Zielgerichtetheit des Machtstrebens, das Gefühl Recht zu haben, ohne Skrupel oder echte Gefühle, man merkt jedenfalls keine.
Vielleicht gar nicht so schlecht als Portrait, aber kein historisches Dokument, nicht hart genug und nicht nahe genug. Es ist wahrscheinlich, wie es intendiert war. Nicht mehr und nicht weniger.

[Akin]

Certainly style - an eccentric, abstract, and at times almost impenetrable style at that - other substance. But oddly compelling. Could have done with more creative editing in translation - too many footnotes. Ultimately, a clash of two egos; Reza does well to keep hers under check, but it is certainly lurking; Sarko has no instinct for self reflection whatsoever, and is happy to let it all hang out, as it were.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't a great read but it reveals the current President of France as an empty suit more interested in Rolex watches than matters of state. He sort of comes off as George W. with a brain . . .and this was written by a friend of his who admitted that at one point if she had to listen to one more of his speeches she'd "vote for the extreme left."

[M. Sarki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read over half this book and just could not find a reason to finish it. As much as I love my Reza, she just did not deliver the goods. Perhaps if I had a stake in French politics I would have found the work more satisfying. But I do not and will not. I am still looking forward to the next Reza novel translated into English. I will give her a pass on this boring and drag of a book.

[Darina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why do we idealize celebrities so much? And then we are disappointed. Inevitably. Sarko is not that special, just a career man. He has flaws. He just goes through the motions in order to get to the next step. Idea men are much more interesting. I would love to hear about the speechwriter that Yasmina Reza mentions in passing. He seems like a worthy subject!

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned. The inside jacket made this book sound interesting and it really isn't. I don't know who any of these people are (except for Sarkozy, of course) and the writing style was not good...I didn't make it very far.

[AC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesantísimo retrato de Sarkozy como un personaje visto a través de los ojos de Reza. Muy, muy recomendable y sencillo de leer. Me lo prestaron y ahora no quisiera devolverlo, ja.

[Anne Kadet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waaaaaay too French.

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me like Sarkozy, YR is such a brilliant writer

[Jeremy · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5