The Book of Dust #1: La Belle Sauvage
Did you know that Philip Pullman released a second trilogy in 2017, some 20 years after His Dark Materials? I didn't find out until a few months ago when my childhood friend gave me this book. I don't know how I could have missed it.
In terms of excitement, it's the equivalent of learning that J. K. Rowling has written a sequel to the story of Harry Potter. But as I sometimes have a goldfish memory (I have read all the Harry Potter an embarrassing number of times, and I don't remember major enough details), I was afraid to start it immediately and not understand anything. If this is your case, do as I did and watch the excellent HBO series. All the pieces will fall back into place like in a puzzle. And you will be able to enjoy this magnificent work.
Summary
We are 10 years before the first volume ofHis Dark Materialsand we follow Malcolm, a sweet and curious 11-year-old boy who goes to school and works at his parents' inn. One day, he meets Lyra, a tiny baby who has been entrusted to the nuns in his village. It's love at first sight. And while his village quietly drifts into authoritarianism, dangers accumulate and Malcolm is entrusted with terrible secrets, he will brave the greatest flood of the century to protect little Lyra.
Impressions
To dive back, 20 years later, into a story that we loved, is dangerous. We run the risk of being disappointed, disillusioned, and of doubting our childhood taste. But all my fears were swept away within the first few pages.
Malcolm, the little boy we follow throughout the book, is a sweetheart. He is curious, well-behaved, helpful, brave... everything you need to please. And then, in the original English version at least, his dialogues are tasty.
“How d’you make them parcels so neat, Sister Benedicta?” he said one day.
“Those parcels,” said Sister Benedicta.
“Those parcels. How d’you make ’em so neat?”
“Neatly, Malcolm.”
He didn’t mind; this was a sort of game they had.
“I thought ‘neat’ was all right,” he said.
“It depends on whether you want the idea of neatness to modify the act of tying the parcel, or the parcel itself, once tied.”
“Don’t mind, really,” said Malcolm. “I just want to know how you do ’em. Them.”
– p. 6
He is the kind of character that you want to bite into, and that you would follow to the end of the world.
As for the story, I remembered it was gripping, but my expectations were exceeded. I didn't want to go to bed anymore, I carried my book everywhere, I read with big fascinated eyes. I was a little girl again, discovering the wonderful world of books.
Which is fascinating for a "children's" book... which may not really be a children's book after all. There are several murders, and there is nothing subtle about them. Malcolm comes into contact with adults who are in danger and who do not hesitate to tell him disturbing truths. He learns a little too young that the world is not as beautiful as it seems. For days on end, he must endure hunger, thirst, lack of sleep and cold on a canoe to protect a small baby. At 11 years old! And there are a few passages that made my heart beat almost as fast as a horror movie. The little boy certainly has more courage than I would have had in his place.
Philip Pullman said at a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference that he does not write for any particular age group:
The important thing for him, he says, is to serve his story. And he succeeds brilliantly. Here is a pearl with which you will not deceive: it will please everyone.
Listen to: this episode of the Inside Creative Writing podcast, that explains the reason why the economy of description in Pullman's trilogy helps to immerse us in the story. The fantastic universe is described as if we were already part of it, and we forget that we are reading a book written by an author (from the 22nd minute).
