The Crippled Giant

Book excerpt: Hindus was fascinated with the antisemitic French author Louis-Ferdinand Céline, then living in exile in Denmark, corresponded with him, and visited him in 1948. Gives his impressions of Céline, who seemed ill and unstable, and reflects on his antisemitism. Céline's tendency to blame the Jews for his career failures and for the poor reception of some of his books appeared as early as 1928. In 1936, convinced that the Jews were leading France into a war which he feared above all else, he attacked them savagely. Although Céline did not collaborate actively, concludes that he was morally guilty of incitement; however, his punishment should be left to his own conscience. Notes that despite Céline's efforts to prevent publication of this book, it contributed to the relatively favorable outcome of his trial, after which he returned to France.