Rachel Kushner’s “Creation Lake”: A Thrilling Dive into Radical Politics and Human Nature
Rachel Kushner, renowned for her sharp, immersive storytelling, brings us a gripping new novel, "Creation Lake." Set against the backdrop of radical politics in France, this novel intertwines the past and present, exploring the profound impact of historical and ideological forces on individual lives. In “Creation Lake,” Kushner masterfully crafts a story that is part thriller, part historical reflection, and part philosophical inquiry, making it a standout in contemporary literature.
At the heart of “Creation Lake” is Sadie Smith, a freelance spy-for-hire, whose latest mission thrusts her into the world of a French anarchist commune named Le Moulin. This group, reminiscent of the real-life Tarnac Nine, operates under the leadership of Pascal Balmy, a character inspired by Julien Coupat, a prominent figure in the Tarnac affair. Pascal’s commune, nestled in the rural Guyenne region, is not just a farming collective but a hub of political resistance and ecological activism. The commune’s activities, particularly their acts of ‘ecotage’ against France’s high-speed rail lines, mirror historical events that shook the French state.
Sadie’s assignment is twofold: infiltrate Le Moulin and bring about the downfall of Paul Platon, a thinly-veiled depiction of the controversial French politician Manuel Valls. As Sadie navigates this complex web of political intrigue, Kushner’s narrative peels back layers of ideology, revealing the personal stakes behind radical movements. Sadie’s interactions with the members of Le Moulin, particularly with the enigmatic Bruno Lacombe, add depth to the story, making it as much about human connections as it is about political struggle.
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Bruno, a former radical who now lives in self-imposed exile in the caves beneath Guyenne, serves as the novel’s philosophical anchor. His musings on human prehistory and the superiority of the Neanderthals over modern Homo sapiens challenge Sadie’s—and the reader’s—conceptions of civilization and progress. Bruno’s tragic past, including the accidental death of his daughter, adds a layer of emotional complexity to his character, making his retreat into the caves as much about grief as it is about political disillusionment.
Kushner’s portrayal of Bruno is emblematic of her approach to character development in “Creation Lake.” Her characters are not merely individuals but embodiments of broader social and historical currents. Sadie, with her detached professionalism and simmering moral questions, embodies the cold, calculated mechanisms of state power, while Pascal and his followers represent the fervent, often misguided, idealism of resistance movements. Bruno, caught between these forces, symbolizes the enduring human search for meaning in a world dominated by impersonal systems.
“Creation Lake” is also notable for its incisive critique of contemporary Europe. Through Sadie’s eyes, Kushner paints a stark picture of the continent, far removed from the romanticized image often portrayed in popular culture. Europe, in Kushner’s narrative, is a “borderless network of supply and transport,” where human lives are often reduced to the status of commodities. This bleak vision is contrasted with moments of raw humanity, such as the image of a pair of orange panties snagged on a bush, which Sadie interprets as a symbol of the unseen suffering that permeates the lives of marginalized individuals.
Kushner’s prose, as always, is both elegant and cutting, seamlessly blending the personal with the political. She doesn’t shy away from the complexities of her subject matter, instead embracing the ambiguity and moral gray areas that define real-life struggles. In doing so, she challenges the reader to consider the costs of both action and inaction in the face of injustice.
“Creation Lake” is a novel that refuses to be easily categorized. It’s a spy thriller, a political drama, and a philosophical exploration all at once. But more than that, it’s a meditation on the power of ideas and the ways in which they shape, and are shaped by, the human experience. Kushner has crafted a story that is not only timely but timeless, a narrative that resonates deeply in our current moment while also speaking to the enduring questions of how we live and what we believe.
In “Creation Lake,” Rachel Kushner has once again proven herself to be one of the most important voices in contemporary literature, offering a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Whether you are drawn to it for its political intrigue, its philosophical depth, or its richly drawn characters, this is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
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