The Devil's Trill, a historical novel by Nabil Malek

Published in 2023 by L'Harmattan in the collection Implication Editeur, the historical and fictional novel Le Trill du Diable by Nabil Malek offers a unique exploration of the realities of three different countries: the United Arab Republic, the German Republic (a country fractured in two) and Egypt. The story begins with the 1967 Israeli-Egyptian War, in which Lieutenant Amin el Foda was wounded. In this novel, sensitive topics such as the purge of the army and the expulsion of Palestinians, as well as the struggle against the Muslim Brotherhood led by President Abdel Nasser, are addressed. The first part focuses on Egypt's losing battle to Israel. Amin el Foda shares a hospital room with Captain Mokhtar. The war is a decisive moment for President Nasser, who is much appreciated by the people… However, the narrator is not fooled: his methods and his way of managing the country include atrocities that disturb him. Subsequently, the novel focuses on the figure of Farouk Tantawy. This former war hero of 1948 and 1956 is highlighted by Nabil Malek. His meticulous research work is reflected in the detail and precision with which he describes the events that took place at that time. Human psychology is also closely examined, concerning the mental health of military personnel, and their mental balance – sometimes questioned. The rest of the novel takes place in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), where the "hero" is sent to training. According to his superior, the reason why Egypt lost is the lack of knowledge in infiltration and the absence of secret services. For this, the country must copy the German model. There, Amin met Markus Wolf, head of the Stasi, and Erich Mielke, Minister of the Interior. Amin el Foda realizes the regime's propaganda and the brutal surveillance methods of the Stasi, which does not hesitate to use torture or inhuman treatment. In the shadows, everyone observes each other and the denunciation is always close. Everyone can end up with a knife in their back, at any moment… Amin el Foda is the main character and his transformation over time is very well described, perfectly highlighted by the pen of Nabil Malek. The reader feels a real attachment to this character, torn and abused, which makes this reading very immersive. The story invites a deep reflection on the complexity of the human soul and on the often difficult choices that the characters must make when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This concerns arrests, suspicions of murder, but also the savagery of which men are capable… In The Devil's Trill, author Nabil Malek manages to convey a vision of war and violence that is both realistic and nuanced. Indeed, what is particularly appreciable in this work is the absence of absolutism between the different protagonists of the story. There is no clan superior to the other, nor a desire to "moralize". According to the author, men who confront each other, with their qualities and flaws, strengths and weaknesses, also do so in a specific context. This nuanced view of war and violence is very interesting because it allows us to better understand the reasons and motivations that push men to fight. Unlike some characters in the novel who are willing to do anything for power, Amin is primarily motivated by his quest for truth. This makes it more human and more easily identifiable for the reader: even heroic. Amin is an inherently complex character who has endured and survived difficult trials in his life. On the one hand, he was trained to become a very special agent. On the other hand, he experienced the war up close and witnessed the psychological and mental consequences of the war on military and civilians. In fact, he paid a high price. Touched by death directly, it is extremely difficult for him to grieve. It is while seeking the truth about Lena's death that Amin's true personal story begins to take shape. He engages in a complex and dangerous investigation, because he may not realize the slyness of the human… Over the course of his investigation, Amin encounters various characters and situations that make him question his convictions and loyalty. To conclude this article, Les Trills du Diable form a long to read, very precise and richly detailed in real historical references. It is a novel from which one does not come out unscathed, as it moves and shocks. From the Western point of view, of those who were lucky enough not to know the war, it is difficult to imagine being locked in a prison, subjected to an ice shower or forcibly interned in a psychiatric hospital. Add to this the desire to unmask the person who took what is most dear to you and you have a great tragedy, which unfortunately reflects the reality of thousands of lives around the world. A lesson in humility, for this novel by Nabil Malek. Author's website: www.letrille-dudiable.com