In his book, Patrice Trigano explores the life of Georges Bataille, a controversial French intellectual who testified in the 1950s at the trial of publisher Jean-Jacques Pauvert. Trigano's novel, Bataille en procès, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Goncourt Prize. The book, a compact 140-page volume, is aimed at readers who value raw expression over deception. It is published by Maurice Nadeau, a well-known French publisher. Trigano is an unusual figure, having studied law and philosophy before transitioning into the art world as a gallery owner, international expert, and writer. His novel highlights the legal risks publishers face when their works are deemed immoral. This was the case with Pauvert, who published the writings of the Marquis de Sade. In December 1956, Pauvert was brought before the 17th correctional chamber, defended by lawyer Maurice Garçon. Bataille, a close friend and supporter of Pauvert, testified in his defense. Bataille's reflections on the power of subversive literature are central to the trial. He argued that literature dealing with themes of "evil" ultimately turns against those who try to control it, transforming them into ghostly figures of their own making. The courtroom became a stage for Bataille's controversial life and writings. Dressed in a dull anthracite suit, with white hair and a side part, Bataille spoke softly. He was once close to becoming a priest but had abandoned that path. He was visibly agitated by the trivial nature of the debate, his tie tightening as he recalled his wild days in the 1930s. He spoke of eroticism, the sacred, dirt, and death—subjects he believed were the foundation of literature. "If literature must be moral, it will die," he declared. He then linked this to politics, stating that works like Sade's are "a means of diverting man from moral order, from the stability that gangrenes societies by attracting them towards fascism." Bataille criticized the pursuit of purity and "healthy thought," which he believed led to the horrors of Auschwitz. He argued that the desire for order stifles life, which he saw as a continuous violation of such order. He questioned how many lives were lost in the name of virtue, citing the Eastern Siberian Sea and even criticizing communism as a "moral machine." He saw both fascism and Stalinism as equally destructive. Trigano draws on a text in which Bataille declares, "You believe in productive revolution. I believe in the insurrection of expenditure." This idea challenges the modern trend of creating places like Disneyland and the rise of technofascism. Bataille's radical views offer a sharp critique of our current era, marked by new forms of puritanism. Trigano's novel effectively captures and conveys these ideas.