Contemporary Literature in French (Level 5)

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Dr Nathalie Wourm
• Assessment: two 2500-word essays (50% each)

What is happening in French and Francophone literature right now? Who are the most interesting and innovative novelists of the twenty-first century? We will be looking at the works of some of the most striking contemporary literary figures and discuss them in their cultural and theoretical contexts, as well as through the lens of literary history. You will be able to make comparisons with current literary developments in other languages, and you will gain an insight into what is happening today in French-language literary culture.

The module is taught in English and assessed in English or French. You can read the books in French or in English translation.

Primary texts

• Annie Ernaux, Mémoire de fille (2016) (translated as: A Girl’s Story)
• Michaël Ferrier, Scrabble: une enfance tchadienne (2019) (translated as: Scrabble: A Chadian Childhood)
• Sorj Chalandon, Retour à Killybegs (2011) (translated as: Return to Killybegs)
• Michel Houellebecq, Soumission (2015) (translated as: Submission)
• Maylis de Kerangal, Tangente vers l'est (2012) (translated as: Eastbound)
• Nina Bouraoui, Tous les hommes désirent naturellement savoir (2018) (translated as: All Men Want to Know)
• Leïla Slimani, Le parfum des fleurs la nuit (2021) (translated as: The Scent of Flowers at Night)

By the end of this module, you will have:

• knowledge of the French and Francophone texts, contexts and issues under discussion
• evaluated the prescribed texts at a thematic as well as linguistic and stylistic level
• worked within historical and theoretical frameworks in the interpretation of the prescribed texts.