The book “Plaidoirie sur le délit d’hospitalité” by Alexander Grothendieck, with forewords by Giorgio Agamben and Hervé Le Tellier, has recently been published by Éditions Gallimard.
The volume presents his famous ‘Plaidoyer’ of 1978, given at the Montpellier court after he was accused of helping an irregular immigrant. Grothendieck denounces the precarious condition of foreigners, emphasising how their presence is often tolerated rather than guaranteed by effective rights.
The Plaidoirie places this story in dialogue with contemporary tensions, challenging society on the risk of new forms of exclusion and racism. Whilst acknowledging legislative changes, a strong call for collective responsibility emerges, against the normalisation of suspicion towards the other.
The central message is an invitation to rediscover the value of hospitality, solidarity and civic engagement, particularly in light of Grothendieck’s personal history and the tragedies of the twentieth century.
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