The Test Of Torture

THE QUESTION, by Henri Alleg. Introduction by Jean-Paul Sartre. Translated from the French by John Calder.

As one among many thousands, Henri Alleg describes the tortures he underwent at the hands of the 10th Paratroop division in Algeria. Tortures of fire and water, electricity and thirst. The purpose of this notice is 285 not to give any details of the events described in this book, but rather to draw the attention of readers to its significance.

This is the first book banned in France since Diderot’s Encyclopedia in the 18th century. It was seized precisely for its condemnation of the “Question,” i.e. torture to elicit confession. The publication of Alleg’s book in this country and Engla...