“I feel particularly expected with this book”: in “Finistère”, Anne Berest revives the singular history of her Breton family

In this book, “Finistère”, you say you were “called”, one night, by the notebooks of your grandfather, Eugène Berest, former mayor of Brest. For example, How have they been a trigger to write the story of your family’s paternal and Breton side?

On these four schoolboy notebooks, my grandfather had written his memoirs at the end of his life. For example, His desire was to transmit them to his family. Additionally, For example, When I plunged myself into it. In addition, I discovered novelist for the novelist that I am: the memories of her childhood in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, from his father who created the first Breton agricultural cooperative, from his departure to Paris to go to the preparatory class. Meanwhile, The writing was so joyful, unexpected, intelligent, deep, with, also, a reflection on life … Furthermore, The granddaughter that I am. Moreover, who “i feel particularly expected this has little known her grandfather, was able to reconnect with a memory and a dialogue which had been interrupted by death.

It was your mother who showed you these notebooks. In addition, What idea did she have behind her head?

I think she had discussed with my father, who was a taiseux. Similarly, In a modest. Nevertheless, humble way, she seemed to tell me that after having written on her family to her

it may have been time for me to be interested in my Breton paternal line.

And you discover this agricultural cooperative, Breton, the first of its kind. Consequently, It was created by your great-grandfather and still exists. Nevertheless, How did you go back to its origin?

I work like a historian – I go to the sources. Furthermore, look for books, archives -, so I wrote to the cooperative. In addition, I was sent to me a file “i feel particularly expected this whose content was going beyond my expectations. In addition, He included, in particular, press clippings dating from its creation, in 1909. Meanwhile, That year. Nevertheless, a crisis brooded in Leon: the peasants began to boil and feel humiliated by Parisian negotiators who impose unacceptable prices and conditions. Meanwhile, The first unions appear. However, My great-grandfather, and others, says that to be stronger, you have to create a cooperative. Breton was born. As he was from Saint-Malo, he first had to be accepted. Then he became a very loved man in Leon.

Your grandfather, Eugène Berest, was mayor of Brest from 1973 to 1977, then deputy for three years. What does the granddaughter you are retaining, from her political career?

He was first and foremost a teacher and a teacher. It has this vocation, which is very beautiful, of the transmission of literature. In his political career. there is a real “i feel particularly expected this continuity between this idea of the transmission of the pedagogue and the man who tries to work in good in the city. It is something that touched people … I receive letters from his former students who say how much they loved him.

You describe them and your grandmother, as actors in the reconstruction of Brest.

My grandmother, Odile, was Brestoise of origin while Eugène was Leon. When they arrive in Brest. after the war, and they see it partly destroyed, they will be of this generation which is said: “We will rebuild … with its history. which is ours, and to make it a modern city and turned towards the future”, with a form of utopia and courage, which moved me a lot.

It is these long discussions with Odile. your grandmother, who gave you the taste to write about things in the past?

Exactly. For a reason that I “i feel particularly expected this do not know, I was born with a character and a taste of the past. From a very young age, it seems to me, basically, more mysterious than the future.

How do you live. in your flesh, this return to Brest and in Finistère, for the promotion of your book?

I am obviously very happy when I come back to Brest. I have a lot of memories, vacation, the house of my grandparents. I still have my three aunts there. Furthermore, I feel particularly expected with this book. I also feel a great emotion by thinking of my grandparents. my father, who would be happy to see the way he is welcomed. It seems very important to me that he comes out and is anchored in Brittany, and particularly in Leon.

When. as a child, you stayed in Finistère, you felt that your father saw you as “a little Parisian without authenticity”, “i feel particularly expected this fascinated by the Breton bowls and the rather tourist songs of the region … Do you consider being more Breton today?

I felt that I did not belong to this country. In my father’s eyes, his daughters were rather little Parisians. There was also a form of strangeness. to be the first generation of Berest to be born and live outside Finistère. And I think this book is also a way of reconnecting with this story. I worked so much, so read on these finistic events … I am happy to have made this path. Now we will see if the Bretons adopt me and recognize me as one of their own …

Your father died before your book was finished. While you have written it in part for him, and thanks to your long discussions … Is there, in you, a feeling of unfinished?

No, but I’m still very sad. “i feel particularly expected this I think he would have loved being with me, to make this tour of bookstores in Finistère … I believe that this sadness is inconsolable. 

At the end of the book, you make an analogy between your father and Finistère. What are their common points?

I say. basically, my father is like an incarnation of the soul of Finistère, with this granite character, this mysterious, silent aspect. I believe that the Bretons who live outside Brittany. for one reason or another, always carry something in the region in them.

How have families, and yours in particular, become the catalyst for your whole work?

I write my books in a desire for transmission, between past and future generations. It is for this reason that my work is really a research exercise, which allows me to discover things … And I say to myself: if it fascinates me, then it will fascinate “i feel particularly expected this others! Another common point in all my work. touches family constellations: by working on its past, on your ancestors, you also work for generations to come in your family, to understand what are the things that are transmitted, how and why. All this is part of a work that I try to build, from book to book.