In his most recent book, Changer : méthode, Édouard Louis shows just how indebted he is, as a writer and thinker, to the works of the French academic and author Didier Eribon. Ever since seeing him lecture early in his life, Louis and Eribon have developed a deep understanding of the other’s works and ideas, with Eribon’s novel Retour à Reims even providing the foundation for Louis’ debut novel En finir avec Eddy Bellegueule.

In this talk, Eribon gives us his view on Louis’ authorship and explores the many ways in which his literature overlaps with the political and translates to real political power.

Didier Eribon is a French philosopher, author and historian, and has written many highly acclaimed works on class, homosexuality, psychoanalysis and Michel Foucault, among other subjects.