Checkpoint - by Jean-Christophe Rufin (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published in 2015 in French as Check-point by Editions Gallimard, Paris.

Book Synopsis

A novel of suspense and psychological tension set in the world of international humanitarian aid by a founder of Doctors Without Borders.

The four men accompanying Maud, a young French idealist, on an aid convoy to Bosnia are very different from the clichéd image of the humanitarian volunteer. One by one, they reveal the secret wounds that have brought them to this conflict zone and, mile by mile, the true nature of their cargo . . .Prize-winning author, Jean-Christophe Rufin offers up a powerful psychological literary thriller that asks vital questions about the role of humanitarian action in today's world, bringing to light the most fundamental dilemmas of our age. As a new kind of violence insinuates its way into the heart of Europe, this novel asks whether it is more effective to take up arms against the enemy or attempt to counter violence with benevolent acts and enlightenment ideals.

"An enthralling, cleverly told novel."--Elle (France)

"This taut thriller is distinguished by its literary polish and moral heft."--Publishers Weekly

"This mix of well-crafted characters, psychological suspense, and the harsh realities of life in wartime results in a nail-biting, challenging literary thriller."--Kirkus Reviews

"As a philosophical novel, Checkpoint is very engaging. . . . Gun battles, explosions, and fights all appear after the first one hundred pages. . . . Checkpoint is about the nature of modern warfare and the various definitions of humanitarianism."--New York Journal of Books

Review Quotes

Praise for Checkpoint and Jean-Christophe Rufin

"This mix of well-crafted characters, psychological suspense, and the harsh realities of life in wartime results in a nail-biting, challenging literary thriller. A novel of war that asks hard questions about what decency demands of us as human beings."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Jean-Christophe Rufin knows how to tell a story. His characters' lives dramatize big questions about what it means to be alive and to act."
--France Info

"Subtle and enthralling."
--Elle (France)

"Jean-Christophe Rufin has written an adventure book...The success of this great novel lies in its suspense and in the meticulous psychology of its protagonists."
--Le Nouvel Observateur

"Rufin's The Red Collar is perfectly paced, darkly humorous and an excellent window into the turmoil and emerging politics of postwar France."
--San Francisco Chronicle

"The Red Collar is a modern parable about loyalty to others, fidelity to one's convictions, and the self-effacement needed to bear the consequences of living by one's belief."
--New York Journal of Books

Praise for "Checkpoint" and Jean-Christophe Rufin
"Jean-Christophe Rufin knows how to tell a story. His characters' lives dramatize big questions about what it means to be alive and to act."
"France Info
""Subtle and enthralling."
"Elle (France)"
"Jean-Christophe Rufin has written an adventure book...The success of this great novel lies in its suspense and in the meticulous psychology of its protagonists."
"Le Nouvel Observateur
""Rufin's "The Red Collar" is perfectly paced, darkly humorous and an excellent window into the turmoil and emerging politics of postwar France."
"San Francisco Chronicle"
""The Red Collar" is a modern parable about loyalty to others, fidelity to one's convictions, and the self-effacement needed to bear the consequences of living by one's belief."
"New York Journal of Books""

About the Author

Jean-Christophe Rufin is one of the founders of Doctors Without Borders and a former Ambassador of France in Senegal. He has written numerous bestsellers, including The Abyssinian, for which he won the Goncourt Prize for a debut novel in 1997. He also won the Goncourt Prize in 2001 for Brazil Red.