Pharricide - Cōnfingō Publishing

Pharricide is the second book by French author Vincent De Swarte. Written as journal entries of its protagonist Geoffroy Lafayen, a lighthouse keeper who guards the Cordouan lighthouse – a lighthouse off the west coast of France. Translated by Nicholas Royle, and brought to an English speaking audience by Confingo Publishing.

Royle, an author, editor and publisher operating out of Manchester is a name I am certain you will see often in future posts here, and if you’re in the northern publishing scene, one I’m sure you’re already familiar with. Royle has authored seven novels and over 100 short stories, edited countless novels (including two that were shortlisted for the Booker Prize), and runs his own publishing house: Nightjar Press. 

Confingo is a Manchester based independent publisher who create beautiful editions of new fiction, poetry and art. Twice a year they produce a unique collection of previously unpublished works. If you’re an aspiring writer/artist/poet, you can submit an entry here: https://www.confingopublishing.uk/submissions. You can find their books in independent bookshops throughout Greater Manchester (Chorlton Bookshop, Bopcap Books in Levenshulme, and in Stockport: Greenhouse Books and Rare Mags).

Each of their books has a unique design and you can tell a lot of effort goes into their production. Pharricide is no different, with a beautifully simplistic front cover and typeface that fits the tone of the story perfectly.

Pharricide Front Cover

Pharricide is best read knowing as little about it beforehand as possible. It is best read in a dimly lit room, in one sitting with the background noise of rain hitting the window. Failing that, it is best read.

It is a perverse, deranged story that fits so much depravity into its 140 or so short pages.  If you absolutely must know a bit more before deciding to make the purchase, then carry on reading, if not, I suggest you head to one of those bookshops mentioned above and get yourself a copy!

Geoffrey is a self-proclaimed loner, so when an opportunity to single-handedly maintain the Cordouan lighthouse arises, he jumps at the opportunity. He doesn’t need human friends and family, he’s got his conger eel, where in his words, to keep from decaying like all other dead things he has: 

‘made a clean cut from the head to the tail along the flank where I’d inserted the gaff to land it. I cut the fins, severed the bones from the head and gills, separated the skin from the body, excavated the eyes, removed the tongue, scraped away the flesh, removed the cheeks, washed the skin and sprinkled with borax.’

It is with this simplicity and straight-forward, surgical language that the story unfolds.

Geoffrey’s venture into solitude is, of course, short-lived, when unwanted guests arrive. What follows is a twisted, macabre tale exploring the darkest sides of the human psyche.

The book makes an excellent gift for those into the dark and weird, looks great on your bookshelf, and is a fun, ghastly read.