Worldwide Women Writers in Paris: Francophone Metronomes

by Alison Rice

Worldwide Women Writers in Paris examines a new literary phenomenon consisting of an unprecedented number of women from around the world who have come to Paris and become authors of written works in French. It takes as its starting point a series of filmed interviews conducted in the French capital, a set of recorded conversations motivated by a desire to pay homage to these discrete voices and images at a moment characterized by impressive diversity. Their individual paths to France and to French are noteworthy, and these authors of different generations and varying places of origin emphasize their singularity. However, the juxtaposition of their reflections reveals that many have faced similar difficulties when learning the French language, adapting to life in France, and many have encountered forms of prejudice in the publishing world related to their ethnicity or gender. These challenges have led them, each in an idiosyncratic manner, to tackle tough topics in their work and
to respond to adversity by finding effective creative expressions.

Taken together, the innovations and interventions in oral and written form of these authors collectively contribute to significant change in the specialized score that is the Parisian literary Hélène Cixous (Algeria); Zahia Rahmani (Algeria); Leïla Sebbar (Algeria); Bessora (Belgium); Julia Kristeva (Bulgaria); Pia Petersen (Denmark); Maryse Condé (Guadeloupe); Eva Almassy (Hungary); Shumona Sinha (India); Chahdortt Djavann (Iran); Yumiko Seki (Japan); Evelyne Accad (Lebanon); Etel Adnan (Lebanon); Nathacha Appanah (Mauritius); Brina Svit (Slovenia); Eun-Ja Kang (South Korea); Anna Moï (Vietnam).

320 pages, Hardcover

Published March 31, 2022

Reviews

[Xenia Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worldwide Women Writers in Paris is an in-depth study of 17 female writers from around the world who write in French and have made Paris their home. Alison Rice conducted a series of filmed interviews with these writers, which forms the basis of this study. The videos are available to view via Alison's dedicated website and I highly recommend you watch them alongside reading this book. Having access to the source material is a true gift and most of the interviews carry English subtitles for those who don't speak French.

The writers in this book have come to Paris along a variety of routes, which are very interesting in their own right, and frequently found themselves snubbed or discriminated against in French literary circles as they had come from 'elsewhere'. This influences how their books are published, categorised, displayed in book stores and reviewed, where they are invited to read and so much more. Their response to this has been inspirational and creative and many have used their treatment on arrival in Paris as fresh material within their novels. The spirit, humour and can-do attitude of these women shines through and it is a book I will continue to dip in and out of to read.

[Noah Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of contemporary Francophone women writers and the issues they face even particularly in France. Easy to read and wonderful perspectives, interesting as well for the free access online to the video interviews!