The Roots of Heaven (Les racines du ciel)

"Les Racines du Ciel" (The Roots of Heaven), a novel by Romain Gary published in 1956, is a thought-provoking narrative set in post-World War II French Equatorial Africa. The story revolves around the protagonist Morel, who undertakes a passionate crusade to protect the African elephant from extinction due to poaching and the ivory trade. Morel's deep conviction that the freedom and majesty of these animals are profoundly linked to the dignity and liberty of humans becomes a metaphor for broader themes of freedom, activism, and environmental conservation. His campaign attracts a diverse group of supporters and followers, including a former Nazi concentration camp survivor named Minna, a French ex-army sergeant, Forsythe, and an American journalist, Abe Fields, who documents the movement. The novel explores different perspectives on environmentalism, the lingering effects of colonialism, the complexities of political and social change, and the struggles of individuals caught in the tide of history. It questions the human relationship with nature and portrays the idealist battle against exploitation and indifference. "Les Racines du Ciel" won Gary the Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary award, and is acclaimed for its visionary ecological concern well ahead of its time. It's a profound reflection on humanity's destructive and redemptive capacities, the quest for meaning, and the enduring fight for a more harmonious existence with the natural world.