Acclaimed Novelist Denies Using Survivor’s Story in Award-Winning Work
Acclaimed novelist Kamel Daoud, whose book, “Houris,” was awarded the prestigious Goncourt Prize, has vehemently denied accusations that he used the story of a survivor of Algeria’s “black decade” without her consent.
Daoud, who writes for the weekly publication Le Point, defended himself in a column, stating, “This unhappy young woman claims that this is her story. If I can understand her tragedy, my answer is clear: it is completely false.” He went on to claim that apart from the visible injury, there were no similarities between the survivor’s experiences and the character Aube in his novel.
Legal Battle Erupts
The
controversy stems from accusations made by Saâda Arbane, who survived a massacre during Algeria’s civil war in the 1990s. Arbane alleges that Daoud and his psychiatrist wife, both defendants in her complaints, drew inspiration from her story for “Houris” without her permission.
Two complaints were filed against the Daouds, one of which was accepted by a court. According to Arbane’s legal representative, the couple may be summoned to Oran, Algeria, for trial in absentia if they fail to appear.
Prior to Daoud’s recent column, his publisher, Gallimard, publicly denounced what it called “violent defamatory campaigns orchestrated against the writer by certain media close to a regime whose nature no one is ignorant of.” Gallimard did not elaborate further on the identity of the regime.
Daoud Defends ‘Houris’ as Fiction
In his defense, Daoud insists that “Houris” is not a biographical account but a work of fiction intended to portray the broader tragedy of a people. He asserts that the novel does not reveal any medical secrets and that the details of Aube’s injury – a cannula for breathing and speaking, scars, and tattoos – are not unique to Arbane. Daoud argues that the woman’s life is not a secret, citing her own public testimonies.
“Just READ this novel to see that there is no connection [to Arbane’s life] other than tragedy of a country,” he maintains. Daoud also vehemently defends his wife, stating that “her name has been sullied by defamation and lies.”
Troubled Publication History
“Houris” has faced obstacles due to its sensitive subject matter. The book, which won the Goncourt Prize on November 4, France’s most prestigious literary honor, could not be published in Algeria. Algerian law prohibits any work exploring the “black decade,” a period of intense violence between 1992 and 2002 that claimed the lives of at least 200,000 people, according to official figures.
What are the arguments being made by both sides in the case against Kamel Daoud?
## Acclaimed NovelistResponds to Exploitation Claim
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. We’re joined today by renowned literary critic, Professor Marie Dubois, to discuss a growing controversy surrounding the Goncourt Prize-winning novel “Houris.” The author, Kamel Daoud, stands accused of exploiting the harrowing experiences of an Algerian war survivor. Professor Dubois, can you shed some light on the situation?
**Professor Dubois:** Certainly. Kamel Daoud has become embroiled in a very public dispute with Saâda Arbane, a survivor of the Algerian civil war’s “black decade”. Ms. Arbane alleges that Daoud appropriated elements of her personal story for his novel’s central character, Aube, without her permission.
**Host:** What has been Daoud’s response to these allegations?
**Professor Dubois:** Daoud has categorically denied the accusations. He maintains that while Aube bears a physical resemblance to Arbane due to a visible injury, there are no other factual parallels between their respective experiences. In a recent column for *Le Point*, Daoud expressed his empathy for Arbane’s tragedy, but firmly asserted the accusations are “completely false” [[1](https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20241123-goncourt-winner-kamel-daoud-accused-of-exploiting-war-survivor-s-story)].
**Host:** This situation raises important ethical questions about the use of real-life events and individuals in fiction. Where do you think the line should be drawn?
**Professor Dubois:** This is a complex debate with no easy answers. While fiction often draws inspiration from reality, writers have a responsibility to treat sensitive subjects with care and avoid exploiting vulnerable individuals. The question of consent is crucial here.
**Host:** We understand this case is now moving to the legal arena. What are the potential consequences for Daoud?
**Professor Dubois:** Ms. Arbane has filed formal complaints against both Daoud and his wife, who is a psychiatrist. The legal proceedings are just beginning, and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be. This case is likely to spark wider conversations about authors’ responsibilities and the rights of individuals whose stories become interwoven with fiction.
**Host:** Thank you, Professor Dubois, for providing your insights on this complex and developing story.
