Book explores a spiritist's life
La fille de Mars is a narrative-portrait of Élise Müller, also known as Hélène Smith, a real spiritist from Geneva who claimed to write poems in Martian language under the guidance of spirits. The book is written by Carla Demierre and published by José Corti.Unconventional narrative style
The author uses a composite writing style that blends fiction with varying points of view to explore the enigmatic character of Élise Müller. This approach allows the reader to experience the complexity of Müller’s life and the blurred lines between the living and the dead.Biographer’s unusual commission
According to the opening of La fille de Mars, the story is about Élise Müller, though it could also be considered a portrait. The biographer received the commission from Müller herself through a special telephone, a detail revealed only at the end of the book. Müller was already dead when she expressed her wishes.Spiritual influences and historical context
Élise Müller lived in the early twentieth century, a time when spiritualism was taken seriously by many. Influenced by figures like Victor Hugo, William Butler Yeats, and Arthur Conan Doyle, she became a notable figure in the spiritualist community. Her name, Hélène Smith, was likely chosen to separate her public identity from her personal life.A mix of voices and formats
La fille de Mars is not a straightforward novel or historical study. Instead, it combines narrative, press articles, transcriptions of spiritist sessions, letters, and diary entries to create a complex portrait of Müller. This mixed approach allows for multiple perspectives on her life and work.Supporting characters and perspectives
The book features a gallery of characters, including Théodore Flournoy, a real psychologist who studied Müller, and Auguste Lemaître, a colleague who helped recount her sessions. These figures provide different viewpoints on Müller’s life and the spiritual experiences she claimed to have.Müller’s artistic and personal life
Élise Müller was also a painter, and her artistic endeavors are explored in the book. Her correspondence with Flournoy and moments of anger, such as when she threw objects at him during a session, reveal her complex personality. Her paintings, though mostly lost, are described in the narrative.The book’s structure and conclusion
Carla Demierre carefully structures the book, guiding the reader through a mix of real and fictional elements. The epilogue is as meticulously composed as the prologue, with the author tidying up the narrative and characters before the final page.
