La Question

La Question is a 1958 memoir by Henri Alleg that documents his experiences during the Algerian War. The book details the author's arrest and interrogation by French paratroopers after visiting the apartment of Maurice Audin in June 1957. The text was written from within Barberousse prison in Algiers and smuggled out through Alleg's lawyers. After selling 60,000 copies in two weeks, the French government censored the book, making it a significant document of state suppression during the conflict. Alleg, a former newspaper editor who had gone into hiding after his publication was banned, provides a first-person account of his time in the El-Biar and Lodi camps. The narrative follows a strict chronological structure, beginning with his arrest and continuing through his imprisonment. The book stands as a testament to resistance and truth-telling in times of political violence, examining the relationship between individual conscience and state power. Its historical significance stems from its role as one of the first detailed exposures of systematic torture during the Algerian War.

Readers describe La Question as a raw, unflinching account that exposes torture during the Algerian War. The book's detailed descriptions and straightforward writing style create a powerful testimony that many found difficult but important to read. What readers liked: - Clear, precise prose without sensationalism - Historical documentation value - Author's courage in publishing during the conflict - Impact on French public opinion about colonial practices What readers disliked: - Graphic content makes it challenging to read - Some sections feel repetitive - Translation quality varies between editions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (190 ratings) Babelio (French): 4.2/5 (48 ratings) "The matter-of-fact tone makes the horror even more impactful" - Goodreads reviewer "Should be required reading for understanding French-Algerian history" - Babelio review "Not an easy book to read but a necessary one" - Amazon FR reviewer

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1. The book sold an extraordinary 60,000 copies in its first two weeks despite being released during a period of strict censorship, and continued to circulate underground after being officially banned by the French government. 2. Author Henri Alleg wrote the entire manuscript while imprisoned in Barberousse prison, smuggling out individual pages through his lawyers to ensure the text would survive even if discovered. 3. The publication of La Question played a crucial role in exposing the systematic use of torture by French forces during the Algerian War, leading prominent intellectuals like Jean-Paul Sartre to speak out against these practices. 4. Despite being Jewish and of French origin, Alleg chose to support Algerian independence and served as editor of Alger Républicain, making him a unique voice bridging multiple cultural perspectives during the conflict. 5. The book's title "La Question" carries a double meaning in French - referring both to interrogation and to torture (as "la question" was historically a euphemism for torture during the French Inquisition).