Hear Our Defeats

A French intelligence officer tracks an American government operative through Ethiopia and Somalia while reflecting on historical military campaigns and their commanders. The narrative moves between present-day Africa and pivotal moments in military history, including the campaigns of Hannibal, General Grant, and Emperor Haile Selassie. The main storyline follows parallel investigations - the French agent's pursuit of the American operative and an antiquities expert's work documenting historical sites under threat from ISIS. Their paths intersect in Djibouti against a backdrop of regional conflict and archaeological preservation efforts. The book interweaves ancient and modern warfare through recurring examinations of victory, defeat, and the human cost of military ambition. Through its structure and themes, it raises questions about how civilizations rise and fall, and what remains after empires crumble.

Readers appreciate the novel's parallel narratives examining war and conquest across different time periods. Many highlight Gaudé's poetic writing style and exploration of how violence impacts both victors and defeated. Positive reviews note: - Strong character development across multiple storylines - Thoughtful examination of moral ambiguity in warfare - Effective weaving of historical and contemporary plots Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, especially in early chapters - Some storylines receive insufficient development - Historical segments can feel disconnected from modern plot Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon France: 4.2/5 (100+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.0/5 (limited ratings) "Beautiful writing but requires patience to get through the fragmented narrative structure," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another writes: "The historical parallels work well but the contemporary story needed more depth." Several French reviewers specifically praise the sections on Hannibal while finding the modern terrorism subplot less compelling.

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🔹 Laurent Gaudé wrote this novel in response to the destruction of ancient monuments in Palmyra, Syria by ISIS in 2015, weaving together stories of military victories and defeats across different time periods. 🔹 The book intertwines four parallel narratives, including those of Hannibal, General Grant during the American Civil War, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and two contemporary characters. 🔹 Gaudé won France's prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2004 for another of his works, "The Sun of the Scorta," establishing him as one of France's most acclaimed contemporary authors. 🔹 The novel explores how even history's greatest victories can lead to personal defeats, examining the psychological cost of warfare across centuries. 🔹 Originally published in French as "Écoutez nos défaites," the book has been translated into multiple languages and earned particular praise for its poetic exploration of the cyclical nature of human conflict.