Za ljubav sina
An intimate, autobiographical drama about fatherhood, guilt, and complex family relationships. The main character is Daniel, a middle-aged widower who is raising three children alone: twins (an older son and a daughter) and the youngest son Bruno.
Bruno is a rebellious, stubborn, rude and disobedient boy – he often runs away from home, fights, insults and rejects authority. His father loves him deeply, but he does not know how to approach him: his reactions are harsh, threats, blows, attempts at discipline – which only worsens the conflict. Daniel constantly faces his own powerlessness, memories of his late wife and the guilt of not being an ideal father.
The family lives in the small town of Chelles; they are helped by Daniel’s beautiful sister-in-law Laura (who takes care of the house, cooks and looks after the children, but remains in the shadows) and the old Mamette. The novel follows everyday conflicts: Bruno’s escape, police interventions, neighbourhood gossip, Daniel’s internal monologues full of self-blame.
Bazin subtly reveals that Bruno is not Daniel’s biological son (perhaps from his wife’s previous relationship), which adds layers of guilt and insecurity. The father wonders if his love is enough, why he is unable to establish a relationship, and blames himself for Bruno’s rebellion. The story culminates in the moment when Daniel realizes that he must change his approach – not through force, but through understanding and sacrifice.
The style is typical of Bazin: sharp, realistic, tearless, with dark humor and deep psychological insights. The novel explores themes of paternal love bordering on obsession, the effects of war and loss on a family, and how children pay the price of parental weaknesses.
The work is less well-known than “Vipère au poing”, but it portrays family dysfunction and the search for redemption through love for a son just as powerfully. The ending brings reconciliation and hope, but with the bitterness of reality.
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