French author Édouard Louis has revealed disturbing details about his family relationships in a recent interview with SVT Babel. The acclaimed writer, known for his works on class and violence, discussed his latest novel "Kollapsen" (The Collapse), which explores his relationship with his older brother who died at age 38.
According to the interview, Louis described his brother as "a monster" and stated: "I hated him so much. I felt nothing when he died." The author revealed that when he published his first book, his brother came to Paris with a baseball bat and tried to kill him, forcing Louis to hide in a hotel room for several days.
I hated him so much. I felt nothing when he died.
The family conflict continues with his latest work. Louis reported that his father and sister threatened to beat him if he published "Kollapsen," saying they didn't want him to write the book. This wasn't the first time the author faced threats from family members.
Despite the animosity, Louis explained that writing the book helped him develop unexpected feelings for his brother: "When I wrote the book, I realized I was starting to have feelings for my brother. Feelings I never had in real life - it was almost love." He described wanting to understand how two people who grew up together could become so different, noting his brother was homophobic, racist, and sexist.
When I wrote the book, I realized I was starting to have feelings for my brother. Feelings I never had in real life - it was almost love.
The interview provides insight into the complex family dynamics that have shaped Louis's writing career and personal life.