Catherine Clement, Emmanuel Carrere et Daniele Sallenave : trois auteurs desenchantes

Abstract

According to Marcel Gauchet, though, in modern history, the West has opted out of religion, yet spirituality still pervades our way of life. It is in this light that I am reading three contemporary works in French literature: LAmazone du grand Dieu by Danièle Sallenave, Jésus au bûcher by Catherine Clément and Le Royaume by Emmanuel Carrère. These three authors have in common the fact that they declare to be atheists. The book by Sallenave consists of an account of the life of Marie Guyart who, in 1599, joined the Ursulines as sister Marie de l'Incarnation and, in 1639, left to do missionary work in Quebec. This work trom the pen of an atheist author about a nun who was canonized in 2014 strikes us as odd. Two factors must have driven Sallenave to write her book: the love she bears her native region - bath author and nun were barn in the valley of the river Loire - as well as her keen interest in women's role in society. [Excerpt]