Kae Tempest's second novel follows a search for peace after prison and dislocation
In "Toute une vie à chercher," the British writer and musician returns to fiction with the story of Rothko Taylor, torn between the body he was given and the life he wants to live.
Kae Tempest, known for spoken-word performance and music as much as for writing, has published a second novel, "Toute une vie à chercher," according to Télérama. The paper describes it as a poetic and moving book built around a quest for self-reconciliation.
At its center is Rothko Taylor, a character struggling, per Télérama's summary, with not living in the right body, and searching for calm after chaos and inner unease. France Culture's Le Book Club, in an episode titled "Kae Tempest: retour au roman," situates the story in a small provincial town, where Rothko returns after several years in prison. There, old memories, past violence and renewed friendships intersect with the present.
Télérama frames the book as an account of reconciliation, both with oneself and with others. Beyond these descriptions, the sources do not detail the plot's structure, the publisher, or the book's length.
Kae Tempest has built a reputation across poetry, rap and theater in Britain before turning more fully to the novel form. This second work marks a continuation of that fiction, according to the France Culture program, which frames it as a return to the novel for the artist.
Sources
This article was written from these reports.
