
PIERRE LA MAZIÈRE
Partant pour la Syrie
I Partant pour la Syrie…
II Le Sphinx bousculé ou la Traversée des Dupes
III Une leçon de Politique orientale
IV Le vénérable Janus de Bkerké ou les Illusions perdues
V La Surprise Alépine ou le Reclus qui voulut être Roi
VI L’affaire Sarrail
Intermezzo Monsieur Robert Directeur des Maisons militaires
VIII Ce qu’on apprend à Damas
In the weeks before his departure, the narrator finds himself surrounded by acquaintances who can only offer a fragment of a song to define Syria. Their casual verses reveal a collective ignorance that both embarrasses and spurs him to seek a deeper understanding of the distant land. With a modest travel allowance and a cryptic address in Beirut, he sets off, determined to uncover the reality hidden behind romanticized verses.
Once on the road, he confronts the bewildering gap between France’s grand mandate over Syria and the scant knowledge its citizens possess. Through keen observation and sharp commentary, he sketches a region scarred by war, torn by religious and ethnic strife, yet brimming with untapped potential. The narrative weaves personal curiosity with a broader critique of administrative missteps, inviting listeners to reconsider how distant conflicts are perceived and managed.
The first act unfolds as a thoughtful exploration of cultural misunderstanding, laying the groundwork for a nuanced portrait of a country caught between history’s weight and the promises of a new era.
Language
fr
Duration
~4 hours (241K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
France: Librairie Baudinière, 1926.
Credits
Laurent Vogel (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica))
Release date
Jun 3, 2023
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1879–1947
A French novelist and journalist of the early 20th century, he wrote fiction and reportage that moved between war, travel, and social observation. His books carry the feel of their time while still sounding curious, lively, and human.
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