Nathalie Sarraute, Fiction and Theory: Questions of Difference (Cambridge Studies in French, Series Number 64)

Nathalie Sarraute (1900–99) is regarded as one of the major French novelists of the twentieth century. Initially hailed as a leading theorist and exemplar of the nouveau roman, she has come to be regarded as an important author in her own right with her own distinctive concerns. In this major 2000 study of Sarraute, the first in English since her death, Ann Jefferson offers a fresh perspective on Sarraute's entire oeuvre - her novels, her outstanding autobiography Enfance and her influential critical writings - by focusing on the crucial issue of difference which emerges as one of her central preoccupations. Drawing on a variety of critical approaches, Jefferson explores Sarraute's fundamental ambivalence to differences of various kinds including questions of gender and genre. She argues that difference is simultaneously asserted and denied in Sarraute's work, and that the notion of difference, so often celebrated by other writers and thinkers, is shown in Sarraute's work to the inseparable from ambiguity and anxiety. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 6 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 15 Introduction......Page 17 PART 1 Difference and human relations......Page 31 ‘DIFFÉRENCES’ AND ‘DIFFÉRENDS’......Page 33 DIFFERENCE DENIED......Page 43 BEYOND COMPARE......Page 50 SELF AND OTHER......Page 55 DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEMS......Page 68 ABJECTION......Page 76 WORDS......Page 78 SCENES OF NARRATION......Page 83 ART......Page 86 PART II The body and sexual difference......Page 93 CHAPTER FOUR Minds, bodies and the new unanimism......Page 95 PSYCHOLOGY......Page 97 REPRESENTATION......Page 103 WRITING......Page 107 WOMEN, HUMAN BEINGS AND WRITING......Page 112 GENDER AND THE GAZE......Page 117 WOMEN WRITERS......Page 121 IDENTIFICATIONS......Page 125 PART III Genre and difference......Page 133 GENERIC DIFFERENCES......Page 135 AUTHORITY, HERESY AND READING......Page 140 STRATEGIES FOR CONTACT......Page 149 CRITICISM AND/AS FICTION......Page 154 FICTION AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY......Page 161 VARIATIONS: REPETITION AND DIFFERENCE......Page 172 INTERNAL BREACHES......Page 179 PART IV Conclusion......Page 185 Death and the impossible difference......Page 187 INTRODUCTION......Page 199 1 DIFFERENCE AND DISSENSION......Page 201 2 SUBJECTIVITY AND INDISTINCTION......Page 203 4 MINDS, BODIES AND THE NEW UNANIMISM......Page 205 5 SEXUAL INDIFFERENCE......Page 208 6 CRITICISM AND ‘THE TERRIBLE DESIRE’ TO ESTABLISH CONTACT......Page 211 7 SAME DIFFERENCE: REPRISE AND VARIATION......Page 213 CONCLUSION: DEATH AND THE IMPOSSIBLE DIFFERENCE......Page 215 PROSE......Page 217 INTERVIEWS WITH NATHALIE SARRAUTE CITED......Page 218 CRITICAL STUDIES OF NATHALIE SARRAUTE......Page 219 OTHER LITERARY TEXTS......Page 223 GENERAL......Page 224 Index......Page 227 In This Study Of Sarraute, Ann Jefferson Offers A Fresh Perspective On Sarraute's Oeuvre - Her Novels, Her Outstanding Autobiography Enfance And Her Influential Critical Writings - By Focusing On The Crucial Issue Of Difference Which Emerges As One Of Her Central Preoccupations. Drawing On A Variety Of Critical Approaches, Jefferson Explores Sarraute's Fundamental Ambivalence Towards Differences Of Various Kinds Including Questions Of Gender And Genre. She Argues That Difference Is Simultaneously Asserted And Denied In Sarraute's Work, And That The Notion Of Difference, So Often Celebrated By Other Writers And Thinkers, Is Shown In Sarraute's Work To Be Inseparable From Ambiguity And Anxiety.--jacket. I. Difference And Human Relations -- 1. Difference And Dissension -- 2. Subjectivity And Indistinction -- 3. Abjection Into Art -- Ii. The Body And Sexual Difference -- 4. Minds, Bodies And The New Unanimism -- 5. Sexual Indifference -- Iii. Genre And Difference -- 6. Criticism And 'the Terrible Desire To Establish Contact' -- 7. Same Difference; Reprise And Variation -- Iv. Conclusion -- Death And The Impossible Difference. Ann Jefferson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 201-210) And Index. Nathalie Sarraute (1900-1999) is regarded as one of the major French novelists of the twentieth century. Initially hailed as a leading theorist and exemplar of the nouveau roman, she has come to be regarded as an important author in her own right with her own distinctive concerns. In this major new study of Sarraute, the first in English since her death, Ann Jefferson offers a fresh perspective on Sarraute's entire oeuvre - her novels, her outstanding autobiography Enfance and her influential critical writings - by focusing on the crucial issue of difference which emerges as one of her central preoccupations. Drawing on a variety of critical approaches, Jefferson explores Sarraute's fundamental ambivalence to differences of various kinds including questions of gender and genre. She argues that difference is simultaneously asserted and denied in Sarraute's work, and that the notion of difference, so often celebrated by other writers and thinkers, is shown in Sarraute's work to the inseparable from ambiguity and anxiety. Nathalie Sarraute, initially hailed as a leading theorist and exemplar of the nouveau roman, is now regarded as a major French novelist in her own right. Ann Jefferson offers a new perspective on Sarraute's entire oeuvre—her fiction, her outstanding autobiography Enfance and her influential critical writings—by focusing on the crucial issue of difference that emerges as one of her central preoccupations. Jefferson explores Sarraute's fundamental ambivalence to differences of various kinds, including questions of gender and genre. This 2000 book on Nathalie Sarraute (1900-99), one of France's most distinguished twentieth-century novelists, was the first major study in English to appear since her death. Ann Jefferson offers a new perspective on Sarraute's entire oeuvre - her fiction, her outstanding autobiography Enfance and her influential critical writings. This book on Nathalie Sarraute (1900-1999), one of France's most distinguished twentieth century novelists, is the first major study in English to appear since her death. Ann Jefferson offers a new perspective on Sarraute's entire oeuvre - her fiction, her outstanding autobiography Enfance and her influential critical writings