A provocative new book that depicts France as an Islamicized country, where universities are forced to teach the Koran, women are compelled to wear the veil and polygamy is lawful, was recently published and obviously has sparked some unrest. The novel, titled “Soumission”, written by France’s most renowned living author, Michel Houellebecq, does indeed have a characteristically provocative plot.
The book takes its readers through France in the year 2022, after the country has suffered a gradual collapse and a Muslim party leader has become the new president. At this point, it seems to be the norm for women to leave their jobs and stay at home, wear the veil at all times, crime rates to drop, the Koran to be taught at schools and universities and polygamy to be authorized. Languorous and depraved, the population of the country seems comfortable in reverting to its collaborationist instinct, thus accepting the new Islamist France.
“Soumission” went on sale on January 7 but even before it hit the shelves, critics slammed its content, calling it anti-Islamic-mongering in the guise of literature. The furor surrounding the book seems all the more relevant as Islam and identity continue to remain at the heart of a fierce national debate in France. The background of “Somission” has also been shaped by the overnight success of another book titled “Le Suicide Francais”, which was authored by right-wing journalist, Eric Zemmour. One of the aspects that book focuses on is the country’s moral collapse in the face of newly confident Islam.
Critics of Houellebecq say his work lends intellectual credibility to Zemmour’s thesis, which is similar to the ideologies of many other neo-reactionaries.
Laurent Joffrin from a left-wing newspaper, Liberation, believes Houllebecq is using his new novel to warm up Marine Le Pen’s chair at Café Flore, which used to be the legendary haunt for left-wing philosophers upon River Seine.
“Whether or not it is the intention, the novel has a clear political resonance,” wrote Joffrin. “Once the media furor has died down, the book will go down as a key moment in the history of ideas - when the theses of the far right made their entry - or re-entry - into great literature.”
Some others have gone even further. Television presenter Ali Baddou claims Houllebecq’s book makes him feel sick and insulted.
“The year kicks off with Islamophobia disseminated in the work of a great French novelist,” he said.
Advocates of “Soumission”, however, believe Houellebecq has finally addressed concerns that the metropolitan and left-leaning aristocrat pretend do not exist.
Alain Finkielkraut, philosopher and member of the Academie Francaise described the author as France’s great novelist of what might come to be.
“By raising the eventual Islamisation of France, he is touching where it hurts - and the progressives are all crying Ow!” said Finkielkraut.
However, Houellebecq has denied any desire to be provocative, even though he once referred to Islam as the “stupidest of religions.” During interviews ahead of the publication of “Soumission”, he said the idea of a Muslim party altering the face of French politics is completely plausible. He also clarified that he had accelerated the time frame in his novel.
“I tried to put myself in the place of a Muslim, and I realised that, in reality, they are in a totally schizophrenic situation,” Houellebecq told the Paris Review.
According to him, Muslims are conservative by background and they do not feel at home in France among the left, even more so after the socialists introduced gay marriage. At the same time, they feel alienated by the rights, who have rejected them over several years.
“So if a Muslim wants to vote, what's he supposed to do? The truth is, he's in an impossible situation. He has no representation whatsoever,” he explained.
Houellebecq said the broader spectrum of his book concerns the return of religion at the center of human existence and the demise of enlightenment ideologies that have existed since the 18th century.
“The return of religion is a worldwide movement, a tidal wave. … Atheism is too sad. … I think right now we are living through the end of a historic movement which began centuries ago, at the end of the Middle Ages,” he told Le Figaro.
By the end of most of his interviews, has implied that the return of religion is a good thing. While claiming that he himself is no longer an atheist, he has suggested that even Islam is better than the existential hollowness of Enlightenment Man.
“In the end the Koran turns out to be much better than I thought, now that I've re-read it - or rather, read it. … Obviously, as with all religious texts, there is room for interpretation, but an honest reading will conclude that a holy war of aggression is not generally sanctioned, prayer alone is valid. So you might say I've changed my opinion. … That's why I don't feel that I'm writing out of fear. I feel, rather, that we can make arrangements. The feminists will not be able to, if we're being completely honest. But I and lots of other people will,” he told Paris Review.
At the end of “Soumission”, Houellebecq’s protagonist, Francois, makes arrangements for himself to resume his teaching job at the Islamicized Sorbonne, where he looks forward to an increased salary and the promise of many wives.
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