The subject of the novel could be seen as a subtle detective story followed by a court case but there is much more to it …
A deadly fall in the mountains aroused suspicion!.
An old revolutionary mountain-climber found himself on the same path as his former fighting partner, who had denounced him years earlier and caused him to serve many years in prison.
The latter has been found dead at the bottom of the slope, as signalled by the protagonist himself.
Coincidence ? Premeditated homicide?
In court, this case led to a confrontation between two men: a young magistrate in search of the truth and an elderly prisoner, survivor of a long dispersed, left-wing terror group.
IMPOSSIBLE for a judge ! Why were the two men on the same mountain slope?
Coincidences happen… but the past cannot be forgotten.
Follows a battle between a young magistrate in search of the truth and the elderly mountain climber who remains firm in his beliefs and ideals. Each one is fighting for his own idea of justice in a debate which shows great mutual respect between magistrate and accused.
In the unique philosophical style of De Luca the dialog is very profound with reflections on the meaning of justice and law, on political commitment, freedom and friendship. As mountaineer he stresses the power of the mountains, and the meaning of life in the face of nature.
The text is interspersed with moving love letters from the prisoner to his lady partner with more significant reflections on existential philosophy and the relationships of people who have loved ones removed from them.
The dialog ends with a nice final twist…
Notwithstanding a little political ideology, this is De Luca’s text which I liked most and not the least for the short chiselled sentences and style.
A masterpiece!
Irène van Steenberge-Buys
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