Step outside for a breath of fresh air.
In a poignant reflection, German poet Nelly Sachs underscores the shared intangible homeland we all inhabit – the air. Our common heritage, often overlooked with unconscious glee, is the very air we breathe, now brought to the forefront by the constraints of social distancing.
Beyond merely sustaining life, air serves as the boundless freeway of the mind, as French author Georges Simenon portrayed in his novel, 'The Bells of Bicêtre'. Here, a bedridden protagonist traverses the airwaves of memory, revisiting, reassessing, and reconnecting with the people and experiences of his past. Yet, confinement, without doubt, stifles flights of fancy for many.
Maurice Leblanc's 'Finally, Wings!', one of the final titles released pre-pandemic and worth revisiting upon the lift of quarantine restrictions, shares a carefree spirit that mimics a soaring kite. The novel, penned by the creator of the airy thief, Arsène Lupin, is brimming with the uncontainable joy and physical freedom that inspire free thought.
The tale follows four characters embarking on a bicycle journey through Brittany and Normandy, leaving behind Paris as their lives are renewed by the invigorating sea of air. The novel traces their self-discovery, a truth about love and sexuality that is as free and ethereal as the air they draw into their lungs.
The protagonists revel in the exquisite sensations of life, with a newfound appreciation for the natural world. "It was an unparalleled life of joy and enthusiasm, in which their love blossomed like a flower: a life free, without restrictions, as if the senses had been freed," Leblanc writes. Characters shed moral constraints as they explore the world, walking away profoundly changed, with life redefined as fresh, easy, and harmonious.
The work urges readers to rediscover the simple pleasure of breathing, as it echoes the transformative journey of its characters. Through these pages, Leblanc pays homage to the air, the silent benefactor that unites us all – a timely reminder in these times of collective isolation.
In the spirit of freedom and renewal, books like Maurice Leblanc's 'Finally, Wings!' encourage readers to reawaken their appreciation for outdoor living, as characters embark on a bicycle journey through home-and-garden-scapes of Brittany and Normandy. This novel, much like the unbounded freeway of the mind as portrayed by Georges Simenon, nudges us to embrace the ethereal beauty of travel and the intangible homeland we all share – the very air we breathe.
With our newfound discoveries about love and sexuality mirroring the transformative effects of air on our lives, we are reminded of the potential for entertainment and self-discovery that an immersive lifestyle can offer, breaking down the confinement that threatens our flights of fancy and connecting us to our common heritage.
As we dream of the day when we can again breathe in the fresh, easy, and harmonious life, books serve as our fleeting escapes, nudging us to savour each breath and cherish the boundless opportunities that air presents for reflection, exploration, and growth.
