French novelist Amélie Nothomb has addressed the literary controversy surrounding Thélyson Orélien, stating in a recent interview that she is “not shocked for a second” by allegations that the author used artificial intelligence to write his heavily publicized debut novel, C’était ça ou mourir, published by Grasset.
Amélie Nothomb Addresses the Thélyson Orélien Controversy
The controversy erupted after Orélien faced scrutiny over the genesis of his debut novel alongside accusations of plagiarism concerning earlier writings. When asked about the situation during an extensive interview with L’Express, Nothomb praised the quality of the book. “It’s a very good book,” she said. “I certainly won’t discourage people from reading it. Thélyson Orélien writes remarkably. That he may have resorted to AI doesn’t shock me for a second. That doesn’t make him a worse writer.”
However, the celebrated author drew a firm line regarding intellectual theft. “On the other hand, the fact that he may have resorted to plagiarism consterns me,” Nothomb added, noting the irony of relying on a machine to certify the human authenticity of a literary work. She revealed that her own latest novel, her 34th titled L’adolescence du perroquet—a fable featuring a Parisian bachelor and a grey parrot from Gabon—was also run through detection software and declared 100% human, joking that she had secretly hoped to be proven a bird.
Analogue Writing Habits and Rejection of Digital Tools
Known for her strictly traditional working methods, Nothomb does not own a computer or an email address, writing all her manuscripts by hand. Explaining her stance on artificial intelligence, she noted that while she does not understand why an author would want assistance, she feels no temptation to use it. “I wouldn’t support being helped by anyone, because difficulty is my pleasure, even if it means getting my brushes tangled,” she told L’Express.
While she acknowledged having read a well-crafted AI-generated text styled after her own voice, she noted that it ultimately lacked her actual identity. “The text was brilliant, I was even flattered that someone could think I wrote so well,” she said. “I was admiring, simply it wasn’t me at all.”
Perspectives on Young Readers and the Future of Literature
Discussing the state of literature, Nothomb reflected on younger generations who grow up alongside generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. Despite estimates indicating that nearly a third of self-published fiction ebooks on Amazon contain AI-generated content, the author remains optimistic about the future of reading.
What are the details of the plagiarism controversy?
What specific book by Thélyson Orélien triggered the controversy?
The controversy centers on C’était ça ou mourir, a heavily publicized debut novel published by Grasset, alongside separate allegations of plagiarism involving Orélien’s earlier texts.
What is Amélie Nothomb’s latest published work?
Her 34th novel, titled L’adolescence du perroquet, is a fable published by Albin Michel that features a bachelor who loves the Louvre and a grey parrot from Gabon.
What tools does Amélie Nothomb use when writing her novels?
Nothomb writes entirely by hand, completely avoiding computers, smartphones, and email. The only reference tool she occasionally consults is a heavy print dictionary, specifically noting a 1900 Larousse edition.
How did Amélie Nothomb’s own work become involved with AI detection software?
During the public discussion surrounding automated text generation, Nothomb’s most recent novel was tested using AI detection software, which reportedly verified the text as 100% human-authored.
Worth a look
