French Literature Reviews - 2026
T. Cruvellier, The Master of Confessions
History, Politics and Society
The Master of Confessions
By Thierry Cruvellier
Published on: September 22, 2011
Publisher: Gallimard (Editions)
ISBN: 978-2-07-013489-2
EAN: 9782070134892
Number of pages: 370 pages
Retail price: €21.00
Phnom Penh, March 2009.
Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch—responsible for the torture and death of more than 12,000 victims at the Tuol Sleng prison (S-21)—sits alone behind soundproof glass: alone before international justice, alone before the families of his victims, and perhaps more than anything, alone with himself, confronting the sheer scale of a crime impossible to fathom and impossible to forgive. *The Master of Confessions* is a striking portrayal of his fate, as well as of the astonishing "human comedy," by turns deeply moving and unsettling, that unfolded around his trial.
Thierry Cruvellier is the only French journalist who attended the entirety of the trial from the first day to the last, witnessing a remarkable and little-noticed event: for the first time before such a tribunal, an accused person who acknowledged personal responsibility for unspeakable crimes, pleaded guilty, and asked the victims for forgiveness took the stand for six months in an effort to explain himself and the events.
Would this trial run counter to expectations and finally bring solace to the victims for the very first time? Would it sketch the profile of a "different" executioner? Would it play that long-awaited yet never-realized role of a "trial for history"? The singular tragedy of the Khmer Rouge genocide trial, right up to its final dramatic twist, is that none of this happened; instead, the subversion of expected rituals sparked moments of exceptional intensity, scenes of profound emotion, clashes both petty and magnificent—and ultimately, a deep bitterness among all the participants in this drama.
Writing this book demanded a nearly impossible combination of qualities: knowledge, experience, discretion, and above all, simple talent coupled with a profound humanity.
Thierry Cruvellier, 44, former editor-in-chief of the International Justice Tribune, has been following the proceedings of the tribunal established in Phnom Penh to judge the Khmer Rouge since 2007.
Previously, he covered the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the War Crimes Chamber in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Justice and Peace process in Colombia. His book *Court of the Vanquished: Towards a Nuremberg for Rwanda?* was published in France in 2006 (Calmann-Lévy) and in the United States in 2010.
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An article about this book can be read on the nonfiction.fr website:
Thierry Cruvellier draws on his extensive experience covering international tribunals to examine the proceedings established in Phnom Penh regarding the Khmer Rouge. The volume focuses on the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who directed the Tuol Sleng prison. As the page notes, this defendant stood before international justice and the families of his victims to explain himself over the course of six months. The work captures the atmosphere of the courtroom and details the complex dynamics that unfolded during the legal proceedings.
The text chronicles the developments surrounding the trial, addressing the expectations placed upon international tribunals and the realities that emerged as the proceedings unfolded. Readers interested in contemporary international justice, trials concerning mass atrocities, and the history of the Khmer Rouge may find this book relevant. The account highlights the reactions of participants and observers alike, offering a detailed perspective on a significant chapter in modern legal history through the eyes of a specialized journalist.