Draft:Louis La Roc
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Louis La Roc is the pseudonym of Irish lawyer and author Colin Carroll, whose controversial literary works have sparked both critical acclaim and censorship. La Roc's books delve into themes of violence, deception, and psychological turmoil, drawing comparisons to authors like Bret Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk.
Numb and Literary Controversy
[edit]La Roc's most infamous book, Numb, purports to be the memoir of Alan Buckby, a British war correspondent leading a double life as a serial killer. The book's graphic content and unsettling narrative have polarized readers and critics. The Irish Times described it as "the strangest book of last year" and labeled it "torture porn".[1] Meanwhile, The Guardian called it "remarkable".[2]
Due to its explicit nature, Numb was banned in New Zealand, placing it alongside censored works by the Marquis de Sade and Bret Easton Ellis.[3]
Despite its disturbing themes, Numb has been noted for its philosophical exploration of human duality. La Roc's prose has been compared to that of Cormac McCarthy and J.G. Ballard, with The Guardian stating: "Impossible to put down, even when you wish you could".[2]
Excerpts from Numb:
- "There are two types of people in the world—those who kill, and those who pretend they never would."
- "She never knew that while I was reporting on war crimes, I was committing them myself."
Other Works and Pseudonyms
[edit]Beyond Numb, La Roc has been linked to other provocative literary projects:
- Incel Mantis (2021): Initially published under the pseudonym Calvin Loch, this novel presents itself as a serial killer's diary. The Sunday Times noted: "Calvin Loch, Louis La Roc – sources say the two are not unrelated".[4] The book has been compared to American Psycho for its exploration of online radicalization and misogyny.
- American Slaughterhouse (2020): Originally published under the name Doc Cage, it was later co-authored by Cage and La Roc. The US Review of Books described it as "a devastating and mystifying psychological portrait of a contemporary American man confounded by domestic and global disaster."
Reception and Legacy
[edit]La Roc's work has ignited intense debate. While some critics accuse him of indulging in "torture porn," others argue that his novels reflect modern existential dread, exposing hidden violence in everyday life. Index on Censorship highlighted the controversy surrounding Numb and its implications for freedom of expression.[5]
His Irish publisher, Liberties Press, described La Roc as "an unusual character" and "the most mysterious person I've ever worked with".[1] Though he has never admitted it, sources claim that La Roc is in reality Colin Carroll, an Irish lawyer and author. The pseudonym "La Roc" is a near-anagram of "Carroll."
At the time of publication of Numb, La Roc consented to three radio interviews:
- One with Matt Cooper that was aborted.
- A second on RTÉ, which triggered listener complaints.[1]
- A third on the RTÉ Radio 1 show hosted by John Murray; according to the Irish Independent, the fallout from this interview contributed to the show's cancellation a month later.[6]
In his final known interview, recorded for The Irish Times podcast, La Roc said: "All this information happened. This is true." He also remarked: "I don't particularly feel it needs to be told. I'm a ghostwriter. I get paid for a job".[1]
He added: "For Christmas this year you had Christmas turkey. For Christmas this year I had tears."
In a rare essay on his writing process for Writing.ie, La Roc stated: "I write in the dark. When I go outside, I deny what I do. Although I've global book sales of 2 million, nobody knows my name... I quit practicing law in Ireland to ghostwrite for a global pop star, a Hollywood actress, a world-famous football manager and a deceased war reporter".[7]
Professor Roy Greenslade of The Guardian called Numb "remarkable" and noted that the book's premise relied on the claim that "the widow of a war correspondent found diaries of his crimes".[2]
The Sunday Times described La Roc himself as "stranger than fiction",[4] and the Irish Independent covered his backstory in a feature titled "The unbelievable truth about Louis La Roc".[8]
La Roc was never prosecuted in Ireland under the country's blasphemy law—an offence that remained in statute until it was repealed by referendum in 2018 Blasphemy law in the Republic of Ireland.
Since 2015, La Roc has not spoken to the media and has never confirmed if he is indeed Colin Carroll.
- ^ a b c d "'Numb': Louis La Roc and the war memoir mystery". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b c Greenslade, Roy (April 10, 2015). "British journalist was serial killer, says book. But can it be true?". The Guardian.
- ^ "Restricted items held by Auckland libraries - a Official Information Act request to Auckland Council". FYI. April 12, 2017.
- ^ a b Burns, John (April 26, 2015). "Stranger than fiction". www.thetimes.com.
- ^ Reidy, Padraig (April 23, 2015). "Padraig Reidy: War on truthiness". Index on Censorship.
- ^ "Presenter John Murray leaves morning show on RTE Radio 1". Irish Independent. June 26, 2015.
- ^ Admin, Writing IE (March 16, 2015). "Ghosting the Dead: 'Numb' by Louis La Roc". Writing.ie.
- ^ "The unbelievable truth... about Louis La Roc". Irish Independent. April 24, 2015.
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