Eugène: A Trip to the Land of Tales – rts.ch
Eugène‘s “the Shadow of the Beautiful” Explores Childhood, Tales, adn Identity
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Lausanne author Eugène, following his Swiss Literature Prize-winning “Letter to my Dictator” (2022), releases “The Shadow of the Beautiful,” a work delving into themes of childhood, traditional tales, and explorations of identity.
Published by Slatkine editions in August 2025, the story originated as an idea for an illustrated children’s album but evolved into a more complex narrative.
from Album to Narrative: The Evolution of a Story
Eugène initially envisioned “The Shadow of the Beautiful” as a simple illustrated album for children. However, he found the concept too expansive for that format. “Playing with the tales, that is to resume what has been told a thousand times, but by saying it in my own way,” Eugène explained, indicating a desire to reinterpret familiar narratives. The project then lay dormant for seven years before being revisited.
The author’s son, bogdan, played a crucial role in the story’s final form, providing critical feedback when he was old enough to articulate his thoughts. Eugène listened intently to Bogdan’s viewpoint,recognizing the story’s resonance with his son’s own journey of self-revelation.
Themes of Identity and Belonging
“This somewhat special character must find his place in the world,” Eugène stated, referring to the story’s central figure – a shadow. “This shadow must find a solution to be less scary, exist and move forward. So it talks about all of us.” The narrative explores themes of double identity and gender fluidity, alongside the global quest for belonging and acceptance.
Eugène believes the story’s core message applies to everyone, including his son. “We all have this path to do, including Bogdan,” he concluded, highlighting the personal connection to the narrative.