Consuming Autobiographies: Reading and Writing the Self in Post-war France (Legenda Main Series) (Legenda Main Series) (Legenda Main Series)

'Since 1975, French literary writing has been marked by an autobiographical turn which has seen authors increasingly often tap into the vein of what the French term ecriture de soi. This coincides, paradoxically, with the'death of autobiography', as these authors self-consciously distance themselves and their writings from conventional autobiography, founding a'nouvelle autobiographie'where the very possibility of autobiographical expression is questioned. In the first book-length study in English to address this phenomenon, Claire Boyle sheds a new light on this hostility toward autobiography through a series of ground-breaking studies of estrangement in autobiographical works by major post-war authors Nathalie Sarraute, Georges Perec, Jean Genet and Helene Cixous. She identifies autobiography as a site of conflict between writer and reader, as authors struggle to assert the unknowableness of their identity in the face of a readership resolutely desiring privileged knowledge. Autobiography emerges as a deeply troubling genre for authors, with the reader as an antagonistic consumer of the autobiographical self.' Since 1975, French Literary Writing Has Been Marked By An Autobiographical Turn Which Has Seen Authors Increasingly Tap Into The Vein Of What The French Term Ecriture De Soi. This Coincides, Paradoxically, With The 'death Of Autobiography', As These Authors Self-consciously Distance Themselves And Their Writings From Conventional Autobiography, Founding A 'nouvelle Autobiographie' Where The Very Possibility Of Autobiographical Expression Is Questioned. In The First Book-length Study In English To Address This Phenomenon, Claire Boyle Sheds New Light On This Hostility Toward Autobiography Through A Series Of Studies Of Estrangement In Autobiographical Works By Major Post-war Authors Nathalie Sarraute, Georges Perec, Jean Genet, And Helene Cixous. She Identifies Autobiography As An Area For Conflict Between Writer And Reader, In Which Authors Struggle To Assert The Unknowableness Of Their Identity In The Face Of A Readership Eager For Privileged Knowledge.--jacket. Autobiography : Orthodoxies And Paradoxes -- Sarraute Writing The Self : The Drama Of Self-possession -- Perec : Autobiography, Possession, And The Dispossessed Self -- Genet Inside And Out : Autobiography, Marginality, And Empowerment -- Hélène Cixous : Autobiography, The Ethics Of Knowledge, And Strategies Of Self-writing. Claire Boyle. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [157]-174) And Index. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Dedication Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Autobiography: Orthodoxies and Paradoxes 2 Sarraute Writing the Self: The Drama of Self-Possession 3 Perec: Autobiography, Possession and the Dispossessed Self 4 Genet Inside and Out: Autobiography, Marginality and Empowerment 5 Hélène Cixous: Autobiography, the Ethics of Knowledge and Strategies of Self-Writing Conclusion Bibliography Index In this book, Claire Boyle presents an account of the death of autobiography in the post-war era of French literature. She challenges assumptions that are sometimes made about why it is that writers are reluctant to be associated with the genre of autobiography.