RTS Interview: In Absentia, Imagination Against the Shoah

In this intimate RTS Culture interview, Raphaël Jerusalmy reflects on the genesis of his novel *In Absentia*, born from a desire to give voice to stories erased by time. He explains how fiction can capture the unspoken nuances of human suffering that history books often overlook. Jerusalmy discusses the moral responsibility of the writer: to bear witness, to honor memory, and to challenge readers to imagine the lives behind the numbers. He recounts conversations with survivors whose experiences—though unspeakable—demand to be told. Through carefully crafted characters, the novel bridges past and present, showing how the echoes of the Shoah ripple through today’s world. Jerusalmy argues that only by engaging the imagination can we guard against collective amnesia. Listeners learn about his research process—archival visits, survivor testimonies, and the alchemy of blending fact with narrative empathy. The interview closes on a hopeful note: that art, in its most honest form, can spark both remembrance and renewal.