Book examines eternal war theme
Olivier Rolin's La Guerre éternelle, published by Gallimard in August 2026, explores war as an eternal and recurring theme in human history, linking ancient conflicts with modern tragedies. The book draws on historical and literary sources to examine how war has shaped human experience across time.Epigraph reflects on historical witness
The book's epigraph, taken from Walter Benjamin, reflects on the angel of history witnessing only one and unique catastrophe. Rolin extends this idea to the fall of Troy, describing it as another name for eternal war and also for love, drawing parallels between ancient and modern events like the September 11 attacks.Iliad and Odyssey contrasted
Rolin's work delves into the Iliad, contrasting it with the Odyssey, and discusses the "bitter melancholy" of the epic as noted by Jorge Luis Borges. The author references numerous texts on the legend of Troy and the war that may never have happened, tracing the historical and literary journey of the myth.Personal reflections on the digital age
The book also touches on Rolin's personal melancholy, feeling "out of date" as a man of writing, "of paper and ink," in contrast to the digital age of AI and social networks. His narrative is described as both a hilarious epic and a bitter reflection on historical events such as Srebrenica, Hiroshima, Mariupol, and Gaza.Lost love and mythological parallels
Rolin reflects on a lost love, likening his passion for a "woman of Troy" to the mythological Andromache, met in a bombed and besieged city in 1995. The author also draws parallels between figures like Jane Birkin and mythological characters such as Helen, Andromache, and the Trojans.Conclusion on the significance of the book
Rolin concludes by acknowledging those who believe literature was real life or that the world was made to lead to a beautiful book. He suggests La Guerre éternelle is one of those books that concentrate the world, are real life, and represent the only life worth living.
