Okay, let's set the scene. A well-meaning but myopic old saint, Saint Mael, sails to what he thinks is a remote island of sinners in need of baptism. In reality, it's an island full of penguins. He baptizes them anyway. When this clerical error is discovered in heaven, the angels decide the only fair thing is to give these penguins human souls and turn them into a new human race. Thus, the nation of Penguinia is born.

The Story

The book is a fake history, tracing the Penguians from their primitive beginnings all the way to a modern society that mirrors France (and Europe) around 1900. We see them invent private property (by hitting each other with rocks), wage absurd wars over trivial insults, and get tangled up in political scandals that feel ripped from the headlines. The plot isn't about one character, but about the entire society's follies. Key episodes include a medieval trial of 80,000 pigs for eating a child, and a modern-day crisis involving forged documents that threatens to bring down the government. Through it all, the Penguians remain blissfully unaware of their own absurdity, convinced of their own greatness.

Why You Should Read It

I picked this up expecting a quirky fable, but I was blown away by how funny and biting it is. France has this dry, deadpan style. He describes the most outrageous events—like a national debate over whether the first Penguian king wore his scabbard on the left or right hip—with complete seriousness. That's where the magic is. He's not shouting his critique; he's letting the sheer silliness of human history speak for itself. It makes you look at our own world's political dramas, national myths, and institutional pride with a new, questioning eye. You'll find yourself constantly thinking, "Wait, we do that too."

Final Verdict

This is a book for anyone who enjoys smart humor and a good dose of skepticism. If you like the idea of Gulliver's Travels or Candide, but focused on the madness of politics, religion, and national identity, you'll feel right at home. It's perfect for history buffs who don't take history too seriously, and for readers who believe the best way to examine truth is sometimes through a fantastic, feathery lie. Just don't expect a straightforward novel—it's a panoramic, cynical, and brilliantly witty ride.