A new book titled Chimères tropicales by Corinne Morel Darleux, set to be published in 2026 by Éditions Dalva, offers a surreal journey through themes of dreams, madness, and the disintegration of reality. The story unfolds in imagined jungles that are both inhabited and haunted, weaving through spaces that defy normal time and place. It pays homage to literature and imagination centered around forests, creating a world that is both real and fantastical. The protagonist, Ariane, lives in a "world wider than life," particularly when her reality intersects with the walls of a psychiatric institution, where both bodies and minds are confined. The narrative is composed of various storylines, each following different characters. These include children who survived a plane crash, a young Cadillac, a person wandering with schizophrenia, and the playful musings of the author herself. Together, they move through a forest as expansive as literature itself, painted in the style of the French artist Henri Rousseau, known for his dreamlike depictions of jungle scenes. The strength of Chimères tropicales lies not only in its diverse cast of characters but also in its deeper metaphysical reflections. These are inspired by the words of German filmmaker Werner Herzog, whose influence is felt throughout the book. Herzog once said that reality is complex and that beyond the facts, there is something more intangible. He suggested that the challenge is to express this "pura vida" — a phrase often used in Latin America to mean "pure life" — and to move gently toward the "conquest of the useless," a concept that Herzog believed could lead to a form of ecstasy, a change in perspective, or even an illumination. Chimères tropicales will be released with 256 pages and will cost 21.50 €. It promises to be a rich and layered exploration of the boundaries between reality and imagination, drawing from a wide range of influences and voices.