'Memory pairs the dead with the living, real with imaginary beings, dreams with history.' She strikes a pose and the camera shutter clicks... A child playing in the debris of the Second World War. Click. A student discovering parties and men's bodies. Click. An activist fighting for the right to choose. Click. A wife picking out a velvet sofa. Click. A mother taking her eldest to judo. Click. A lover, seducing a younger man. Click. A grandmother presenting her granddaughter to the camera. Click. The Years/Les années is Annie Ernaux's critically acclaimed 'masterpiece' (Guardian), charting a woman's personal and political life against the backdrop of a rapidly changing post-war Europe. Eline Arbo's inventive stage adaptation was premiered as De jaren by Het Nationale Theater in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2022. It was first performed, in an English-language version by Stephanie Bain - after the translations by Alison L. Strayer and Tanya Leslie - at the Almeida Theatre, London, in 2024, with a cast of five women collectively bringing to life the story of one woman, and a whole continent. This new edition of the play is published alongside the West End transfer in 2025.
Annie Ernaux
Annie Ernaux is a renowned French author known for her autobiographical novels that explore themes of memory, identity, and social class. Her most notable works include "The Years" and "A Man's Place," which blend personal reflection with sociological analysis. Ernaux's writing style is characterized by its honesty, clarity, and precise attention to detail. She has been praised for her ability to capture the complexities of human experience and the passage of time. Ernaux's impact on the literary genre of autobiographical writing is significant, as she has pushed boundaries and challenged traditional notions of memoir. "The Years" is considered her most famous work, garnering critical acclaim and numerous awards for its powerful portrayal of a woman's life in post-war France. Overall, Annie Ernaux's contributions to literature have cemented her reputation as a masterful storyteller and a leading voice in contemporary French literature.
Other related
A Woman's Story – WINNER OF THE 2022 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE
