May 3, 2011
Day 123: Le Passe-Muraille
Many years ago, Marcel Aymé wrote a short story called Le Passe-Muraille (The man who walks through the wall) and it became of one his most famous works. Set in Montmartre, at rue Norvins, where Aymé lived, the protagonist Dutilleul found himself with most unusual talent for walking through walls but later accidentally “cured” himself and was stuck in a wall following a late night rendezvous. Poor guy had no one but the painter Eugene Paul who occasionally sang, accompanied by a guitar, as consolation. (Read the translated work here.)
Today, at the corner of rue Norvins, sits a bronze sculpture to honour Aymé and this short story of his. It is a poetic tribute, for the location commemorates not only where Dutilleul found himself imprisoned for life, but also the writer himself living in the building just adjacent to the wall. Visitors today seem to believe that rubbing the hand of the sculpture would bring good fortune. The proof – shiny and sparkling hand of the bronze figure. ;)
so…did u rub his hand? ;)
nope! ;)
whay? couldn’t they reach his other hand??? :p
yeap! it’s really quite high, the entire sculpture.
Hahaha … if I can run through the wall, then no point of me finding one big big wall for my head-first lol ;) Is it in France?
bro, nope, you’ll walk right through. of course this is in france. in paris even ;)