Ourika

Ourika

Author: Claire de Duras

Publisher: Modern Language Association

Published: 2014-01-01

Total Pages: 86

ISBN-13: 1603292292

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John Fowles presents a remarkable translation of a nineteenth-century work that provided the seed for his acclaimed novel The French Lieutenant's Woman and that will astonish and haunt modern readers. Based on a true story, Claire de Duras's Ourika relates the experiences of a Senegalese girl who is rescued from slavery and raised by an aristocratic French family during the time of the French Revolution. Brought up in a household of learning and privilege, she is unaware of her difference until she overhears a conversation that suddenly makes her conscious of her race--and of the prejudice it arouses. From this point on, Ourika lives her life not as a French woman but as a black woman who feels "cut off from the entire human race." As the Reign of Terror threatens her and her adoptive family, Ourika struggles with her unusual position as an educated African woman in eighteenth-century Europe. A best-seller in the 1820s, Ourika captured the attention of Duras's peers, including Stendhal, and became the subject of four contemporary plays. The work represents a number of firsts: the first novel set in Europe to have a black heroine; the first French literary work narrated by a black female protagonist; and, as Fowles points out in the foreword to his translation, "the first serious attempt by a white novelist to enter a black mind."


The Feminist Encyclopedia of French Literature

The Feminist Encyclopedia of French Literature

Author: Eva M. Sartori

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 1999-07-30

Total Pages: 673

ISBN-13: 0313033455

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The earliest known literary productions by women living in Europe were probably written by French writers. As early as the 12th century, women troubadours in the south of France were writing poems. French women continued writing through the ages, their number increasing as education became more available to women of all classes. And yet, of the great number of works by women writers who preceded the current feminist movement, very few have survived. A few writers such as Marie de France, George Sand, and Simone de Beauvoir became part of the canon. But critics, mostly male, had judged the works of only a few women writers worthy of recognition. As part of the feminist move to reclaim women writers and to rethink literary history, scholars in French literature began to take a new look at women writers who had been popular during their lifetimes but who had not been admitted into the canon. This reference book provides extensive information about French women writers and the world in which they lived. Included are several hundred alphabetically arranged entries for authors; literary genres, such as the novel, poetry, and the short story; literary movements, such as classicism, realism, and surrealism; life-cycle events particular to women, such as menstruation and menopause; events and institutions which affected women differently than men, such as revolutions, wars, and laws on marriage, divorce, and education. The volume spans French literature from the Middle Ages to the present and covers those writers who lived and worked mainly in France. The entries are written by expert contributors and each includes bibliographical information. The entries focus on each writer's awareness of how her gender shaped her outlook and opportunities, on how categorizations, structures, and terms used to describe literary works have been defined for women, and the ways in which women writers have responded to these definitions. The volume begins with a feminist history of French literature and concludes with a selected, general bibliography and a chronology of women writers.


French Women Writers

French Women Writers

Author: Eva Martin Sartori

Publisher: U of Nebraska Press

Published: 1994-01-01

Total Pages: 660

ISBN-13: 9780803292246

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Marie de France, Mme. De Sävignä, and Mme. De Lafayette achieved international reputations during periods when women in other European countries were able to write only letters, translations, religious tracts, and miscellaneous fragments. There were obstacles, but French women writers were more or less sustained and empowered by the French culture. Often unconventional in their personal lives and occupied with careers besides writing?as educators, painters, actresses, preachers, salon hostesses, labor organizers?these women did not wait for Simone de Beauvoir to tell them to make existential choices and have "projects in the world." French Women Writers describes the lives and careers of fifty-two literary figures from the twelfth century to the late twentieth. All the contributors are recognized authorities. Some of their subjects, like Colette and George Sand, are celebrated, and others are just now gaining critical notice. From Christine de Pizan and Marguerite de Navarre to Rachilde and Häl_ne Cixous, from Louise Labe to Marguerite Duras?these women speak through the centuries to issues of gender, sexuality, and language. French Women Writers now becomes widely available in this Bison Book edition.


VICTOR HUGO Ultimate Collection: Novels, Plays, Poetry, Essays, Memoirs & Letters

VICTOR HUGO Ultimate Collection: Novels, Plays, Poetry, Essays, Memoirs & Letters

Author: Victor Hugo

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-12-03

Total Pages: 4683

ISBN-13:

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Victor Hugo's 'VICTOR HUGO Ultimate Collection' is an extensive compilation of the renowned author's work, encompassing his novels, plays, poetry, essays, memoirs, and letters in one comprehensive volume. Known for his powerful and emotive writing style, Hugo's work delves into complex themes of love, justice, and societal issues, making this collection a literary treasure trove for readers seeking profound and thought-provoking narratives. With a mix of genres and forms, this collection showcases Hugo's versatility as a writer and his lasting impact on the world of literature. The rich historical context within which Hugo wrote adds depth and significance to his works, capturing the essence of the time in which he lived and wrote. Victor Hugo, a prominent figure in French literature, drew inspiration for his works from his experiences and observations of the social and political landscape of his era. His commitment to addressing societal injustices and championing the human spirit shines through in his writings, making him a voice of change and empathy. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Hugo's enduring legacy continues to resonate with readers worldwide. I highly recommend 'VICTOR HUGO Ultimate Collection' to readers who appreciate masterful storytelling, poignant themes, and timeless literature. This collection not only offers a glimpse into Hugo's prolific literary career but also serves as a testament to his enduring relevance in today's world.