Released April 6th, 2006 192 pages ISBN: 2-914388-82-9 Summary ‘I understood that he who wishes to be considered as a ‘brain’, and to be granted the right to immigrate to France, must produce a whole collection of diplomas. But this is forgetting that all our Heads of State are illiterate state Ph.D.’s. If I, too, make up my mind to it, I can get a Ph.D. with summa cum laude every day of next week, provided that I oil the printer’s palm. Monday, I am a Ph.D. in nuclear physics; Tuesday, I become a Ph.D. in general and comparative literature… I even know an untutored lady who got all her diplomas on the same day of the same year, from elementary school to academic studies. The printer had in fact forgotten to replace the date on the stamp.’ Young Isaac knows that he won’t get a visa for France from the witch doctor. By dint of shrewdness and after an unbelievable journey, he will eventually manage to reach Paris and make his dream come true. Luc Bassong’s debut novel unveils the true face of immigration with a surprising freedom of tone and a healthy humour. Born in 1971 of immigrant parents, Luc Bassong spent his teenage years working in Africa. He has written fictional texts for Radio France, as well as a theatre play, Service Number, which was performed at Paris’ Rond-Point theatre. Today, he shares his life between Paris and London.
