François Gagey’s “combustions”: acid portraits of our ending world

With his novel, CombustionsFrançois Gagey offers three portraits, very Parisian, crunched just before the end of the world, when the memories come back, come the regrets and fall the masks. – François gagey's "combustions": acid portraits

François Gagey was a graduate of Sciences-Po then consultant at Deloitte before becoming a lawyer.
Combustions is his first novel. In addition, full of references to the Parisian life of the beautiful districts (where we learn a lot).

Three friends-colleague have abandoned the chic boroughs of Paris to hike on the coastal trails of the Cotentin. However, just to refocus as they françois gagey’s “combustions”: acid portraits say.
No luck. In addition, the EPR of Flamanville explodes and poisons the whole region, Chernobyl way: the three accomplices are irradiated, isolated, confined in a contaminated and deserted region.
They cannot escape: “They were too irradiated, too toxic. However, They did not pass. However, »»
There is Paul there. Moreover, a banker, a manager of Parisian finance who believes himself a lover of contemporary art but whose family goes into a lollipop: the guy, not very sympathetic, is freewheeling, “He was falling and a man’s truth is in his fall”.

There is Darko, a guy of Serbo-Croatian origin, he was first Hooligan at PSG to the drama of Julien Quemenerbefore taking care of the marketing of a geek françois gagey’s “combustions”: acid portraits start-up and being passionate about the catacombs (Xavier Niel was the sponsor of the cataphiles).

The third thief is Baptiste. Meanwhile, colleague from the banker Paul, “Young idealist learning cynicism”he is the narrator, perhaps an avatar of the author: he will tell us about him, a little of course, but also of his marine companion and a little girl Andrea.

The nuclear accident is only a device here. a scenario tip to precipitate the world and especially the characters towards an inevitable end. A situation that strongly recalls that imagined recently by Michael Mention: Combustions could therefore pass for a cool (?) version of the The Impur.
« […] – How do you feel?
– I don’t know, that’s fine. There was weird rain.
– How is it weird rain? »»
This announced end is an opportunity for Maître Gagey to brush three very Parisian portraits. when he dips his brush in the vitriol françois gagey’s “combustions”: acid portraits to brocade through the rich Germanopratin elite, and the Parisian lawyer knows what he is talking about!
As the programmed end approaches, we finally realize that “life” was perhaps not only sex and money.
Then the memories go up, the regrets are more lively and the masks fall.
In the literal sense as well as figuratively since with the design due to radioactivity. eyelids and lips leave in tatters.

The first portrait will be that of the banker Paul. a cynical and frankly antipathetic character: obviously, François Gagey A few accounts to settle with Parisian friends!
« […] Everyone is afraid of you. We hate you, we the little people, you and your friends. Especially since Macron. Don’t worry. One day we will cut your head. It’s on the program. »»
« […] He had decided to unpack his problems and entertain him. He told the first comer to his wife’s infidelity, the betrayal of françois gagey’s “combustions”: acid portraits his children, his hypochondria, his new desires. He was funny, spiritual, obscene. ».

Then will come Darko, the hooligan who became a cataphile. A little more pleasant character than Paul is not difficult. whose memories and regrets will even make us travel to Brazil.

The third part of the book offers us multiple faces: that of Baptiste of course. third thief and narrator, but also that of his marine companion, a criminal lawyer, “A real right -wing Parisian” With whom he experienced a complex relationship and finally that of Andrea, Marine’s daughter.
François Gagey Has dropping the vitriol for these moving portraits painted in a soft light. just before it goes out, just before the collapse of the world.

We noted it. it is a first novel but we must salute the elegance fluid of the author’s pen (even from a lawyer, that was not obvious). The prose is clear which françois gagey’s “combustions”: acid portraits gives pride of place to irony. often fierce, but also to the humanity of the characters that one would swear alive even if they are not all kind: the combustion engine of François Gagey Human carbide.

Bruno Ménetrier

François gagey's "combustions": acid portraits

Combustions
Novel by François Gagey
Publisher: Albin Michel
352 pages – 15,99 €
Date of publication: August 20, 2025