Michel Houellebecq

Michel Houellebecq published essays and poetry before establishing himself in 1994, with the novel De wereld als markt en strijd, as one of the great hopes of French literature. He confirmed that status with Elementaire deeltjes, which rightfully earned him the reputation of a major writer. After Lanzarote (2001), Platform (Plateforme, au milieu du monde) was published in 2002.

A disillusioned forty-something man goes on holiday to Thailand. There he enters into a relationship with an enterprising woman in every respect, with whom he sets up a chain in sex tourism. After all, why should wealthy but sexually hungry Westerners be denied the opportunity to give their money to poor but sexually skilled Easterners? Unfortunately, the empire the couple runs collapses when puritanical Muslims oppose prostitution and carry out an attack.

“The new book by Houellebecq is good, exceptionally good even, and the success it will undoubtedly achieve is deserved” — Le Nouvel Observateur