The Professor's History

by Claire Messud

In 'The Professor's History' a French historian travels to Algeria to uncover the terrible truth about his country's actions in the region. His search leads him to a story which has lain untold but unforgotten for many years.

Claire Messud's work has been hailed for its sweeping appeal and its sheer beauty. She explores themes of connection and isolation with unexcelled power and grace.

44 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2006

About the author

Claire Messud is an American novelist and literature and creative writing professor. She is best known as the author of the novel The Emperor's Children (2006).

Reviews

[Abria Mattina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Professor’s History is the story of a man known only as “the professor” who travels to Algeria in order to write the history of the French military campaigns in that took place there in the nineteenth century. The professor is highly conscious of how different the cultures and attitudes of the Algerian Arabs and the French colonists are, observing both as something of an outsider.

The professor is particularly interested in incidents of holocaust allegedly perpetrated by the French in 1845. His investigation occurs during the first world war, and he encounters resistance to his research plans from colonials who would rather forget how they became colonists. In this matter, the professor is more sympathetic to the Algerian locals.

“They carry the history we have forgotten,” said the professor. “Our beginnings here were brutal.”

The professor believes that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. As war rages on in Europe, he sees that he lives in times of momentous change and believes that people should navigate by learning from the past, and at the same time preserve the knowledge of the present for the benefit of future generations.

[...] “knowledge is the only salvation. For the past and future both.”
“Noble sentiments indeed,” said the administrator. “But I suspect you have only the experience of your library. Forgive me, but I speak as a former military man, and I can assure you, the maps of old battles are of very little use in the field. Wits and courage are what’s called for; the rest is a waste and a distraction.”

The professor persists in his research despite the pessimism of others, but comes to wonder who will listen to the story he plans to tell? It’s a story that will not particularly appeal to either the French or the Algerians, and with the rest of the world entrenched in war, who would want to read about more violence, especially violence that occurred beyond living memory? The Professor’s History ends on a macabre note, which seems to suggest that the affairs of the dead only matter to the dead; that preservation is somehow barbaric and/or cruel; and that the pursuit of history is futile if the world is not ready to hear the stories such a search yields.

The Professor’s History is a deep and well-crafted novella, impressive in its economy of words and Messud’s ability to create such vivid settings. Her characters breathe from the moment she introduces them. It’s a great read, food for thought and for discussion. I think it would be an excellent book club pick: members can read it in an hour but could discuss its characters and politics for days.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief yet satisfying read. I was reminded of Mersault in The Stranger by Albert Camus. Perhaps because of the setting and characters. Long after I finished reading, I still found myself musing over the story, of what I would do if I were in the professor’s shoes. If every inch of history deserves to be known. Or not.

My first Messud, and left with a pleasant taste in my mouth.

[Goran Remborg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short, only 42 pages, but beautifuly written