Tarare part 1

Tarare Part 1 is the first half of a novella aimed at exploring the life of the famous 18th century French glutton, Tarare. The work is a hybrid of biography and historical fiction, with a reliance on facts where facts are available. It is based primarily on the medical journals of Professor Percy, who gave in detail a strange and grotesque account of Tarare’s brief life, ranging from his experiences as a showman on the streets of Paris, to a military courier, and finally, as a cruel and inhuman monster, capable of committing depraved acts of cannibalism and infanticide. In the first chapter, set in 1797, Professor Percy is on his way to meet with Tarare, who is dying in a hospital in Versailles. The next four chapters, which take place five years earlier, represent the main crux of the narrative. They document Tarare’s stay at the hospital in Soultz-sous-Forêts, prior to his employment as a military courier. Here, under the scrutiny of Doctor Courville and Professor Percy, he becomes the subject of a number of bizarre medical experiments designed to test his eating capacity. Set for the most part in the beginnings of the French Revolution, Tarare Part 1 foreshadows the political and social violence that is yet to come. It offers a unique perspective on history, examining the grim but fascinating world of 18th century medicine. The first part of my novella follows Professor Percy as he attempts to make sense of Tarare’s actions, both medically and philosophically. Ultimately, he is left with more questions than answers.