"The Wizard of the Kremlin"… a book that caused a widespread uproar in France and a number of European Union countries, as its hero is a hypothetical head of state called Vladimir Putin. The novel generally tells how Putin's hypothetical government works. The novel captured the hearts of lovers of novels, to the extent that it achieved a number of awards, and more than 430,000 copies were sold within days of its publication. The issue was not without critics, who considered it flirting with the Russian president, after he put his armies into Ukrainian territory. It is a war that ravages all of Europe, not just Ukraine. For many, the novel became the best guide to understanding Putin's motives for launching the Russian invasion about a year ago. The author of “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” Swiss-Italian writer Guiliano da Impoli, has become an expert on Kremlin affairs, to the extent that the French Prime Minister invited him to a luncheon. Television networks hosted him in their morning bulletins to analyze the developments of the war in Ukraine. French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne said she enjoyed the novel "The Wizard of the Kremlin", describing it as a mixture of fact and fiction. It is also an echo of current affairs in the world, and the developments of the war in Ukraine. French critics considered that the success of “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is, in fact, an affirmation of the continued strength of literature in France, as many novels formed the features of public debates in France. But other critics saw that the success of "The Wizard of the Kremlin" raises concern, in that it may reformulate the French's views towards Russia. Some of these critics said that the novel presents a positive image of the Russian president, in a country that many consider to be tolerant of Putin, despite his mistakes and incorrect decisions. These critics accuse the “Wizard of the Kremlin” of depicting Putin in his strongest strength, opposing Western domination, and his firmness in standing against the United States’ efforts to “bring Russia to its knees.” These are, of course, the views of the Kremlin, which maintains that Russia needs a strong, experienced leader to outrun Western hegemonic endeavors. The former French ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, said that the popularity of the book “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is nothing but a reflection of the fascination of the French with everything related to Russia, an admiration that resulted from the similarities in the revolution, the empire, and the precious paintings. Others claimed that "The Wizard of the Kremlin" includes soft opinions about Putin, and this may lead to a change in the official French position regarding what Russia is doing in Ukraine, fears that may have been reinforced by French President Emmanuel Macron's call not to disrespect Russia and try to harm it. Cecile Viassi, a political science professor specializing in Russia at the University of Rennes II, said that the aforementioned book contains Russian propaganda, with a few paradoxes. The author Da Empoli has been controversial in his previous writings. He previously served as mayor of the Italian city of Florence. He was appointed as an advisor to a former Italian Prime Minister. Da Empoli said he wanted to use the novel to show the way Russia is trying to project its power. The novel is based on a main character, Vladislav Serkov, a former theorist in Putin's government, and the architect of the centralization pursued by the Russian president, to concentrate power in his hands alone. Some even called him "Putin's Rasputin". Da Empoli, 49, said that Serkov's character sparked his imagination and fueled his ideas. The novel includes accurate fictional details about the workings of Putin's government. In it, the author portrays prominent personalities who stand by Putin, especially the founder of the Wagner Group, whom the author accuses of being behind disinformation campaigns aimed at dividing the Western ranks. Da Empoli, who teaches political science at a university in Paris, revealed that he finished writing his novel two years ago, and handed it over to the publisher, who did not respond to him until after Putin invaded Ukraine. Once published, it became a bestseller, as the first major Western attempt to portray Putin up close.
Okaz (Brussels) @OKAZ_online