The Institut is happy to offer visiting French authors a relaxed and intimate atmosphere in which they can meet Francophone audiences and talk about their works in their mother tongue. 

In today's episode, French multi-awarded author Annie Ernaux discusses her works and career with St Andrews scholar Elise Hugueny-Léger and Professor Emerita at the University of Sussex Lyn Thomas, who also present their website dedicated to the author: www.annie-ernaux.org

Annie Ernaux grew up in Yvetot in Normandy. From a working-class, but aspirational family, she studied at the universities of Rouen and Bordeaux, eventually passing the agrégation, a challenging and coveted teaching qualification in France. She started her literary career in 1974 with Les Armoires vides (Cleaned Out), an autobiographical novel. In 1984, she won the Renaudot Prize for another of her autobiographical works La Place (A Man’s Place).

Very early in her career, she turned away from fiction to concentrate on autobiography, taking a sociological and historical apporach to writing about her individual experiences. Her 2008 historical memoir Les Années (The Years) is considered by many to be her magnum opus. In this book Ernaux writes of herself in the third person for the first time, providing a vivid look at French society from just after the Second World War until the early 2000s. It is the poignant social history of a woman and of the evolving society she lived in.

Rencontre Littéraire with Annie Ernaux

The Institut français d'Ecosse promotes French language & culture in Scotland. Founded in 1946, based in Edinburgh.

Rencontre Littéraire with Annie Ernaux

IF Ecosse