When the Self is transpersonal: writings bequeathed by Annie Ernaux

Abstract

Annie Ernaux's literary work, distinguished by the articulation of literature, history and sociology and by the presence of a transpersonal first person, exerts a powerful sense of identification on readers, a strong power of emancipation. We have seen a significant number of writers from later generations directly driven by the writings of the Nobel laureate.The aim of this paper is to study the impact of Annie Ernaux's work and the legacy of self-writing bequeathed by the author of Les Années, both in Brazil and in France. These creations directly draw upon the interpellation effect of Ernaux's literature. More specifically, we will be focusing on Morrer de amor (Editora Paris de Histórias, 2021), by Brazilian author Natália Bravo and Dix-sept ans (Grasset, 2015), by French Colombe Schneck. Bravo says that she was called upon by Ernaux's literature. Morrer de amor is a book that emulates Les Années and interweaves Brazilian and French history with personal memoirs. Dix-sept ans, an autobiographical account of an abortion, dialogues directly with L'Événement. We therefore propose an analysis of Annie Ernaux's transpersonal self as a driving force for other works which, prompted by her liberatory and liberating literature, echo the same Ernaux's gesture of authorship.