Originally published in 1954 under the title D'entre les morts by French author team Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac and made famous by Alfred Hitchcock in his 1958 classic film adaptation, Vertigo counts as one of the greatest psychological thrillers, ever.
Boileau-Narcejac are known for their ingenious plots, focus on settings, mounting psychological suspense - and, most notably, creating atmospheres and moods drenched in disorientation and fear, all elements abundantly present in Vertigo.
Vertigo, an absolutely first-rate novel overshadowed by the Hitchcock film, a novel I would strongly encourage lovers of exceptional fiction to read. The tale begins thusly: wealthy industrialist Paul Gèvigne arrives at the law office of Roger Flavières, a friend he knew intimately fifteen years ago in college and hasn't seen since, and asks for a highly unusual favor: keep an eye on his wife Madeleine since she has been acting rather queerly. Initially hesitant, Flavières eventually agrees and starts to shadow Madeleine.
Since there are significant differences between the Hitchcock film and this Boileau-Narcejac masterpiece, I will avoid spoilers by jumping to a highlight reel:
Barrister's Backstory – Flavières became a lawyer for a very specific reason. As he recounts to Gèvigne, his father spent a career as a divisional inspector and insisted that he, his son, follow his footsteps and join the police to become a detective. Flavières obeyed his father and did just that. Unfortunately, a tragedy occurred that still haunts him: he and his assistant, a fine chap by the name of Leriche, were chasing a criminal who took refuge up on a steep roof. Since he, Flavières, has always had a dread of heights, he had Leriche climb up and do the collaring. Leriche slipped and fell to his death. This incident compelled Flavières to leave the police and, even to this day, Flavières can hear Leriche's scream as he tumbled to the street below. Gèvigne tells Flavières he remembers his never having a head for heights, a fact taking on great significance as the story unfolds - and the prime reason for the novel's title: Vertigo.
Alarming Likeness - As Gèvigne explains to Flavières, although Madeleine never has been attracted to anything relating to the occult, she does have, or so it appears, an eerie connection to her great-grandmother Pauline Lagerlac, a strange woman who committed suicide at age of twenty-five, the current age of Madeleine (gulp!). And, in the course of his trailing Madeleine, at one critical juncture, Madeleine actually speaks of her great-grandmother, suggesting she has Pauline Lagerlac's memories and is living not her own life but the life of Pauline Lagerlac! Psychological suspense and disorientation, anyone? Boileau-Narcejac prove themselves masters of noir by the inclusion of this baffling mental phenomenon with echoes of things like past-life regression and spirit possession.
The Power of Eros - Flavières repeatedly denies he's in love with Madeleine along with going even further - judging himself incapable of love. He reflects, “Passion, real passion, doesn't develop in a couple of weeks.” And he recalls reproaching his legal clients who blubbered about love. “Go on. You make me laugh with that stuff about love. Love, indeed! A childish dream! Very pretty, no doubt, and exquisitely pure, but unrealistic.” Oh, Flavières, you'll learn the inflamed heart is not to be scoffed at. And when someone attempts to suppress their emotions, those powerful feelings can quickly twist and darken into something resembling...obsession. How twisted? How dark? While waiting for Madeleine, Flavières "realized the extent to which he was in her clutches. She absorbed literally all his strength. He was a blood-donor. No, that wasn't the word. A soul-donor."
Distant Rumblings – France is experiencing drama aplenty when Flavières follows Madeleine through Paris – the Germans have invaded to the north. Parisians discuss the war, read headlines about the war, listen to radio reports on the war. Meanwhile, Flavières experiences mixed, complex emotions relating to the war (he himself wasn't called up for military service due to a medical issue). Keep in mind the novel published in 1954 when French readers had their own vivid memories revolving around the German invasion.
Colossal Twist - The concluding chapter serves as one of the most dramatic, jaw-dropping twists any reader will encounter. I myself was stunned. In point of fact, when I read the novel a second time, it was as if I was reading a different novel. Immediately all of Gèvigne's words, his reactions, his moods, his way of being could be seen from an entirely dissimilar angle. Same thing goes for Madeleine. Am I exaggerating? To find out, read Vertigo for yourself .
French authors Pierre Boileau (1906-1989) and Thomas Narcejac (1908-1998) - Boileau created the plots and Narcejac the atmosphere and characterization. Together they collaborated on over fifty thrillers. Unfortunately, other than Vertigo, I could only locate three novels currently available in English: She Who Was No More, Choice Cuts and The Evil Eye. I plan to post a review for each one.
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