1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910825577003321

Autore

Fell Alison

Titolo

Liberty, Equality, Maternity

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Leeds, : Taylor and Francis, 2002

ISBN

1-351-19763-0

1-351-19761-4

1-351-19762-2

Edizione

[First edition.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (219 pages)

Disciplina

840.9352042

Soggetti

Motherhood in literature

French literature - Women authors - History and criticism

French literature - 20th century - History and criticism

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

chapter 1 Writing Motherhood / Alison S. Fell -- chapter 2 Theorizing Motherhood / Alison S. Fell -- chapter 3 Historicizing Motherhood / Alison S. Fell -- chapter 4 Simone de Beauvoir / Alison S. Fell -- chapter 5 Violette Leduc / Alison S. Fell -- chapter 6 Annie Ernaux / Alison S. Fell -- chapter Conclusion / Alison S. Fell.

Sommario/riassunto

"The concept of motherhood emerges strongly in the writings of Simone de Beauvoir, Violette Leduc and Annie Ernaux, whose work is examined here in the light of current debates about women's reproductive function and the longstanding glorification of the mere au foyer in France, driven by fear of a falling population. In this interdisciplinary study of twentieth-century French women's writing, Fell uncovers tensions at the heart of the literary critique. She shows these authors challenging the patriarchal view of motherhood as the sole justification for a woman's existence while at the same time confronting the conflict inherent in their relationship with their own mothers. A survey of theoretical and historical material demonstrates vividly that the changing concept of motherhood remains a problematic and highly contentious issue for French feminists, whether writing in 1940 or 1999."