In a recent interview, French-Algerian novelist Xavier Le Clerc opened up about a profound sense of otherness that deeply shapes his identity. Following the death of his father in 2020, he felt a strong urge to share his father’s story—a journey that began with a harsh childhood in northern Algeria, endured the struggles of the Algerian war, and culminated in his experiences as a father in France. Since his father was illiterate and rarely shared details of his past, Le Clerc has tapped into his imagination to piece together this narrative.
Le Clerc draws inspiration from the 1939 writings of Albert Camus, which highlighted the extreme poverty in Kabylia. The stark images of hungry children fighting with dogs for scraps reflect the grim realities faced by his father during his formative years. Born in 1937, Mohand-Saïd Aït-Taleb lived in a village lacking basic necessities like running water and electricity. At just nine years old, he embarked on an arduous journey of over 300 miles to Oran province to work in the grape harvest. When he was 25, he left a newly independent Algeria in search of work in France, where he would ultimately spend many years toiling in a metal factory in Normandy. Despite his tireless work ethic, his meager earnings were never enough to support his wife and nine children, forcing him into early retirement in 1992.
Currently living in the UK, Le Clerc also reflects on his own experiences growing up as an Algerian immigrant in France. He bravely shares his journey of coming out to his family, the prejudice he faced, and his eventual self-imposed exile in Paris. As a child, he found solace in stolen library books, nurturing the dream that one day his own work would occupy shelf space, only to be taken by a kid from a high-rise council estate. In 2012, after changing his name, he experienced a flood of career opportunities that had previously eluded him.
His latest memoir, *A Man With No Title*, translated by William Rodarmor, powerfully portrays the struggles of marginalized communities. More than a heartfelt tribute to his father—”born dispossessed, without a title to land or French citizenship papers”—Le Clerc’s work also acknowledges the opportunities for redemption through education that France afforded him. By retracing his father’s path, he gains a deeper understanding of himself and the shared resilience that connects their stories.
*A Man With No Title* by Xavier Le Clerc (translated by William Rodarmor) is available from Saqi Books for £10.99. To support the Guardian and Observer, you can order your copy at guardianbookshop.com, though delivery charges may apply.
