Neus Flores
Just Looking is a striking and timely novel by Matthew Tree that masterfully blends political satire, black comedy, and a thrilling narrative to explore the unsettling #rise of neo-fascist ideologies in contemporary Europe.
Set against a backdrop of growing #xenophobia and political radicalization, this compelling book follows the lives of four individuals—an English retiree, a French journalist, a Romanian student, and a violent extremist—whose paths converge aboard a cruise ship off the coast of France.
Their chance meeting thrusts them into the heart of a newly #emergent far-right movement, Nous Sommes La France (NSLF), a group that scapegoats a #fictional Eastern European community called the Mashubians.
Through this fictional but all-too-believable scenario, Tree unpacks the dangerous #allure of authoritarianism in modern democracies. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into a chillingly familiar world of #conspiracy theories, nationalist rhetoric, and the manipulation of public fear. Yet the book maintains a sharply satirical English tone, highlighting the #absurdities of contemporary political discourse.
Beyond its gripping plot and #witty dialogue, the novel stands out for its author’s unique perspective.
Matthew Tree, born in London in 1958, has lived in Catalonia since 1984. He is known not only for his literary #talent but also for his deep engagement with Catalan society and politics. Having taught himself Catalan in the late 1970s, Tree made a bold decision in 1990 to write primarily in Catalan, becoming one of the few non-native authors to do so successfully. His full bibliography includes witty books written in both English and Catalan, spanning from #novels to #essays, short stories, and #memoirs.
Tree’s career bridges #cultures and languages, making him an especially poignant voice in today’s Europe, where questions of identity, integration, and #nationalism are more pressing than ever. He has also been an active media contributor, with regular journal columns and local television appearances over the years.
The themes explored in Just Looking—the rise of far-right populism, the #fragility of democratic values, and the manipulation of public sentiment—are not only confined to fiction. Across Europe, far-right parties have gained traction in France, Italy, Hungary, Germany, and beyond, capitalizing on economic discontent, #fears over immigration, and cultural anxiety.
While these movements may currently not wear the same uniforms as 20th-century fascist agents, their ideologies often echo similar patterns: ultranationalism, xenophobia, and #disdain for pluralism. Tree’s novel serves as both a #warning and a wake-up call, reminding readers of the subtle ways in which democracies can erode.
In this context, Just Looking is more than just a compelling read—it’s a culturally and politically #relevant work, and an especially fitting gift for Sant Jordi’s Day, Catalonia’s beloved celebration of #books and #roses.
Held on April 23rd, Sant Jordi celebrations combine the spirit of Valentine’s Day (devoted to love) with World Book Day (an idea conceived in 1922 by Vicente Clavel, director of Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona, as a way to honour the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes and to boost the sales of books), where couples and friends exchange #books and #roses as tokens of affection and intellectual connection.
Gifting Just Looking on Sant Jordi´s day is a powerful #gesture. It’s a way to share not just a gripping story, but a set of timely reflections about our political moment, which is particularly #meaningful coming from an author who has chosen Catalonia as his home and writes with deep cultural sensitivity and #commitment to democratic #values.
In a world grappling with division and disinformation, Tree’s novel is a #reminder of literature’s enduring role: to challenge, to reflect, and to connect with others.
Article written for the Washington Morning by journalist and author Neus Flores
For additional cultural articles written by Neus Flores please click here.
