The Audacious Republic โof Cornani: โขJean-Paul Delfino Uncovers a 19th-Centuryโค French Imposture
Jean-Paul โคDelfino’s โnew novel, “COUNANI, a king without โคland or crown,” plunges into the tumultuous 19th-century landscape of โฃGuyana,โ aโ territory populated by a diverse mixโข of individuals -โฃ liberated convicts, gold prospectors, formerโฃ slaves, and adventurers โค- โขalongsideโ representatives of French administration. The novelโ revisits characters from Delfino’s previous โwork,โ “Guyanes” โฃ(2023), namely Clara and Manรฉ, a married couple comprised of a white woman and a Black man, โคboth former convicts. โThe narrative is sparked โwhen Clara unexpectedly returnsโข toโค France, prompting Manรฉ to embark on a journey to find her, a journey that weaves between Guyana and โขParis.
Central to the story is theโ remarkable,and largely unknown,history of Jules โgros (1829-1891),a French geographer โand journalist. despite โnever having visited Guyana, Gros โdeclared himself president โขof the autonomous โ”Republic โofโฃ Guyana,” orโฃ “Republic of Cornani,” in 1886. In the novel, Manรฉ becomesโฃ aโ collaborator ofโ Gros โฃin Paris.
Delfino, speaking on the Vertigo show on September 12th, confessed his โinterest with Gros, stating, “I still do not know โif this gentleman was a utopian, โขa โpoet,โฃ a crook or simply someoneโ a little cracked.” He โfurtherโ noted that the ancient relationship between Parisโค andโ Guyanaโข has consistently been marked by “a frantic Jacobinism and a poor reputation.”
Theโข novel details how Gros exploited theโ widespread belief in โGuyana’s potential wealth, promising ample returns on investments to a number โคof unsuspecting individuals. He โฃsuccessfully convinced them that the newly โproclaimed republic represented an “Eldorado.”
“COUNANI” contrasts theโฃ stark reality of โขaโ neglected Guyana with the fantastical โฃmirages conjured inโ Parisโค regardingโฃ the territory’s supposed โขriches. Gros’s ambition extended beyond mere proclamation; he commissioned โa flag, drafted a constitution, and โeven attempted to establish โฃa functioning government, appointing butchers unfamiliarโฃ with even โคbasic geography as ministersโข and opening consulates and embassies across Europe. Remarkably, some foreign nations initially โbelieved in the republic’sโฃ legitimacy, a testament to theโข power of repeated falsehood.
Delfino emphasizes that Gros’s actions areโ emblematic of France’s historical ignorance โregarding โits overseas territories. “I โขwanted to tell the character of Jules Gros, as forโ me he is โvery emblematic of the ignoranceโค of the rest of the world by France,” he explained.
The author draws parallels between the 19th-century situation and contemporary French policy,expressing dismay that little progress has been made. “I really have โคthe impression of having written aโ contemporary novel,” Delfino stated, citing recent proposals to reopen the Cayenne prison โคor establish a companyโฃ in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon asโฃ evidence that “Weโ did โฃnot โฃadvance a millimeter, it is cataclysmic.”
“COUNANI, A King without land or crown” byโ Jean-Paul Delfino is published byโข ISTYA andโ CIEโ and isโข scheduled for release in August 2025.
(Source: Interview by pierre Philippe CADERT, adaptation web: mh)