Wanderlust awakenings
François-Henri Désérable, a former professional hockey player turned world traveller, has recently published a new book titled Chagrin d'un chant inachevé. This book, published by Gallimard, is a reflection on travel and the emotions it evokes, and spans across Burgundy, New York, and India.
Chagrin d'un chant inachevé is not Désérabe's first foray into writing about travel. His previous work, Voyages aux pays nomades, written with Erik Orsenna and Bernard Matussière, is a continuation of his travel experiences. This book is a combination of images and text that depict their wanderings around the world, published by Métailié and containing 176 pages.
Désérable's new book almost never saw the light of day due to multiple interruptions in its writing. One of the significant interruptions was his publishing Mon maître et mon vainqueur in between the interruptions of Chagrin d'un chant inachevé, which won the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française in 2021.
The novel is inspired by Désérable's extensive travel experiences and is a testament to his love for exploration. During his journey, he used various modes of transportation, including motorcycle, bus, and hitchhiking. The diary of Ernesto Guevara was often found near his backpack during his travels.
Désérable's life was significantly influenced by the book "L'usage du monde" by Nicolas Bouvier. Bouvier's work appears as a key inspiration in Désérable's personal and literary development. In interviews and podcasts, Désérable discusses how L'usage du monde shaped his approach to travel, exploration, and the search for meaning through places and literature.
Chagrin d'un chant inachevé by François-Henri Désérable contains 198 pages and is a poignant reflection on travel and the emotions it evokes. Désérable's next book, however, will not be a travelogue but a novel about wine, set in multiple locations around the world.
Despite the publication of his new book, Désérable's wanderlust remains unquenched. He dreams of travelling to Africa (Cape to Cairo), Yemen, Pakistan, the United States, Asia (apart from India and Nepal), and Venice. His love for travel and exploration continues to shape his life and work, making him an inspiring figure for many.
- François-Henri Désérable has written a new book titled Chagrin d'un chant inachevé, which ventures into the exploration of travel and its emotional impact, and is a follow-up to his travel-based book Voyages aux pays nomades.
- Beyond his love for hockey and travel, Désérable also delves into various aspects of lifestyle, such as literature, as evidenced by his discussions on Nicolas Bouvier's work and his aspiration to explore more destinations like Africa, Yemen, and Venice.
