Éric Vuillard Books in Order

If you’re looking to dive into Éric Vuillard’s gripping storytelling, this guide to Éric Vuillard books in order will help you explore his engaging and thought-provoking works. Known for mixing history with sharp wit, Vuillard’s books give a fresh take on past events. Whether you’re just discovering his writing or already a fan, this list will help you follow his impressive literary path.

About Éric Vuillard

Eric Vuillard is a French writer and filmmaker, known for his works L’homme Qui Marche and Mateo Falcone, the latter based on a story by Prosper Mérimée. Vuillard’s book Conquistadors won the Ignatius J. Reilly Prize in 2010, as well as the Franz-Hessel and Valery-Larbaud prizes in 2012 and 2013.

In The Order of the Day, Vuillard tells the story of key events, meetings, and decisions in the 1930s that led to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. The book explores these historical moments with dark humor and absurdity, challenging how history is shaped to fit certain agendas, which are often far from the truth.

The Nazi takeover of Austria was not as smooth as Nazi propaganda suggested. Behind the seemingly warm reception the Nazis received, there were years of political intrigue, murders, and manipulation. Vuillard highlights how the victors write history, and at that time, the Nazis controlled the narrative, hiding the dark reality of their conquest.

The British, following a policy of appeasement, failed to intervene, which allowed Hitler to grow more powerful. While it’s easy to criticize this now, Vuillard uses sarcasm to show how British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed he was acting in the best interest of peace, trusting Hitler’s promises. At the time, Chamberlain could not predict the horrors to come, but we know now that his actions were naive.

The Order of the Day is not a traditional WWII story. There are no battlefields here. Instead, the story unfolds in strategy rooms and boardrooms, where leaders of nations made crucial decisions.

The Nazis in Vuillard’s book are not the terrifying figures often portrayed in movies and other books. They are shown as individuals, many of whom had mental health issues. Despite this, they were given control of a country, simply because the rest of Europe was too afraid or unwilling to stop them.

This book has a satirical tone, much like Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. While the Nazis were responsible for horrific crimes, Vuillard emphasizes that they didn’t do it alone. They relied on industrial giants like Siemens, Allianz, and Bayer, as well as other powerful leaders, to carry out their plans.

Published in May 2017, The Order of the Day reflects growing concerns about nationalism in Europe. Vuillard invites readers to think about how history might have changed if key political figures had made different choices when facing Hitler.

From the very first page, it’s clear that Vuillard did extensive research, drawing from journals and historical records. The book also delves into the lives of lesser-known figures, like Louis Soutter, whose drawings serve as a metaphor for the coming war, and Bill Tilden, a tennis player. It even touches on the tragic stories of Austrians who took their own lives during the Nazi invasion.

In The War of the Poor, Vuillard discusses how most oppressed people throughout history did not initially seek violence or revolution. Instead, they wanted basic rights: fair pay, shorter working hours, better working conditions, and access to healthcare and education. Over time, as these demands were ignored, their frustration grew, leading to more extreme actions.

Vuillard explores this escalation in The War of the Poor, where he examines how beliefs can shift from seeking minor reforms to challenging the very structure of society. He draws a comparison with Martin Luther, whose initial protests against the church eventually led to more radical ideas about the organization of society. Ultimately, Vuillard suggests that although spiritual reform was achieved, the material power of princes remained unchanged.