On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jérémy Fel, a writer known for his dark and intense universe. He will be presenting and signing copies of his latest novel, Malgré toute ma rage (Despite All My Rage), on September 22 in La Croix Valmer, during the Rencontres Littéraires literary festival.
A hard-hitting novel
In this fourth novel, Jérémy Fel takes his readers to South Africa, where four young girls set off on their first vacation together as friends. The seemingly idyllic trip takes a dramatic turn, prompting each of them to question the origin of evil and its effects on the human soul.
Why did you choose South Africa?
“I wanted a country that was both touristy and marked by real violence. I had thought of Mexico, but it seemed implausible to me that parents would let their children go there. South Africa, and particularly Cape Town, seemed more appropriate: a city that is very popular with tourists, but plagued by gangs, crime, rape, and murder.”
As for the title, it is inspired by a punk song from the 1980s:
“My titles often come from pieces of music. Here, it was a perfect fit, since the novel questions all forms of domination and rage.”
A haunting piece of writing
Written in one sitting, Malgré toute ma rage is a novel that the author already had in mind in terms of its structure:
“For the first time, I knew the ending before I even started. The writing came very quickly, almost obsessively.”
But beyond the process, we find the obsessions that run through all his work:
“Man confronted with his dark side, childhood fears, family dysfunction… These are themes that impose themselves on me. I don’t really choose, I just let myself be carried away.”
His style, often described as visceral and sensory, also draws on his relationship with cinema and literature:
“I want the reader to feel what the character is experiencing. I like to create an almost cinematic tension. Among my influences are David Lynch, who moved me deeply, the American author Joyce Carol Oates, and Zola, who wrote in a profoundly sensory way.For me, words create the most beautiful images.”
Meeting with readers
Since his first novel, Les loups à leur porte (2015), Jérémy Fel has always enjoyed meeting his readers:
“It’s strange at first, but it’s a very precious moment. You write alone, the reader reads alone, and suddenly you find yourselves face to face. Something is created, an emotion, an exchange that goes beyond the text.”
Among the most striking reactions, he mentions:
“One reader told me she felt emotions she thought she would never feel again. And 17- and 18-year-olds, who don’t usually like reading, told me they devoured Malgré toute ma rage in two days. That, to me, is priceless.”
What about La Croix Valmer?
The author has not yet been to La Croix Valmer, but is looking forward to this first visit:
“I’ve never been here before. It’s always a pleasure to discover new places, and I’m delighted to be here to share this moment.”
What he hopes the public will take away from his book:
“Even when my characters commit monstrous acts, they remain profoundly human. Monsters don’t really exist: they are human beings who, under certain circumstances, can cross the line into the unthinkable.”
A final word
If he had to sum up Malgré toute ma rage in three words, Jérémy Fel would say:
“Treatise on Perversion: An Exploration of All Forms of Domination (Racial, Family, Social, etc.)”
As for his future projects, the author is already working on a new novel, which will be very different and longer, as well as a television series and a graphic novel.
“I like to reinvent myself and explore other forms of writing.”
Jérémy Fel
Join us on September 22, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., in La Croix Valmer to meet Jérémy Fel and discover his novel Malgré toute ma rage