The Son by Michel Rostain, is a historical fiction novel set in the early 1960s, in the wake of the Algerian War. The protagonist, Albert Jourdan, is a retired army veteran who is living alone and estranged from his family. When he is asked to take in a mysterious young man named Timothée, he reluctantly agrees and slowly begins to form a bond with Timothée as they share their similar experiences and views on life.
Both Albert and Timothée have experienced the horrors of war and the loss of loved ones. When Timothée is accepted into Albert’s home, the two men bond over their shared grief. It is through these conversations that Albert comes to the realization that Timothée is the son of his own dead son, killed during the Algerian War. Albert must now struggle with the fact that his son had a child and he wasn’t told about him, or asked to be a part of his life.
The novel explores the difficulties of coming to terms with one’s past, and of redefining one’s identity after experiencing a traumatic event. It also explores the conflict of culture, language, and religion between the French-speaking Albert and the Arabic-speaking Timothée. Although they share similar experiences of living alone in the wake of tragedy and loss, the two struggle to connect due to their language barrier. As they slowly open up to one another, their conversations become a bridge between their two very different worlds.
At first, Albert is resistant to Timothée’s presence, and expresses his frustrations about not being notified about his son’s child. But as the two men grow closer, Albert begins to open up to his newfound family. The novel is a portrait of healing and forgiveness as Albert comes to understand Timothée and the struggles he is dealing with in the wake of his father's death.
The Son is an emotional and powerful story of loss and redemption. It is a deep and thought-provoking exploration of grief and the fragility of our lives in the face of war and tragedy. The deep bond that develops between Albert and Timothée is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of loss and despair. Through the power of relationships and conversations, Rostain captures the healing power of compassion and understanding in a moving and thought-provoking way.
