Deviation Posting – Jean-Claude Izzo

A slight deviation as I notice that some people read this blog for the occasional posts on matters sea-related – pirates, junks, ports etc. I should thank my mate Sam Chambers for recommending Jean-Claude Izzo’s novel The Lost Sailors. If you like stories around the sea and seamen as well as anything set in a port, The Lost Sailors is a great novel.

I was unaware of Izzo though he has a strong reputation in France apparently. He died in 2000. The novel is set aboard a stranded cargo ship unable to leave Marseilles. The intertwined stories of the crew, their past lives, loves and voyages is a evocative one of the sea, sea life and the culture of port towns. Marseilles is rendered so well you can almost smell that great city.

I’m glad to have discovered Izzo and will certainly look out some his other work – his Marseilles Trilogy – Total Chaos, Chourmo and Solea – also come highly recommended. And a quick nod of respect due to America’s Europa Editions for translating and publishing Izzo – Europa is a great and prolific translator of European literature into English. Their list is well worth perusing for some gems.