Leïla Slimani, a celebrated French author known for her novel 'Lullaby,' shares insights on her new role in promoting French culture. Emile Chabal, an academic from the University of Edinburgh, discusses Sabri Louatah's 'Savages: The Wedding,' exploring themes of identity and political tension in modern France. They delve into the complexities of caregiving relationships in post-colonial contexts, the impact of colonialism on literature, and the vital role writers play in shaping political discourse and cultural identity.
Leïla Slimani's 'Lullaby' intricately explores the psychological and social complexities of domestic life, highlighting class tensions and immigrant dynamics.
The discussion on France's May 1968 protests reflects on their enduring yet complicated legacy in shaping contemporary societal and political discourse.
Deep dives
Cultural Reflections and the National Anthem
The discussion emphasizes the contrasting nature of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, which embodies both pride and troubling historical imagery linked to France's colonial past. The anthem's line referencing those deemed impure highlights the complex dialogue surrounding France’s identity shaped by centuries of colonialism and immigration. French literature serves as a lens through which these issues are examined, as contemporary authors reflect on a multicultural future that seeks to reconcile this legacy. In the podcast, the significance of such cultural outputs is underscored as influential in shaping national discourse.
The Gripping Narrative of 'Lullaby'
Leila Slimani's novel 'Chanson Douce' (Lullaby) starts with a shocking event, drawing readers into the story to explore the psychological nuances of domestic life and motherhood. The narrative presents a bourgeois family's inner workings and their relationship with their nanny, Louise, revealing social tensions surrounding class and immigrant status. Slimani's portrayal of the ambiguous relationship between families and their nannies generates a discourse on privilege, exclusion, and hidden power dynamics within domestic settings. This exploration challenges readers to question the moral complexities of the family's seemingly ordinary life against the backdrop of an extraordinary tragedy.
Race, Class, and Identity in Literature
The podcast delves into the racial dynamics depicted in Slimani's novel, particularly the insistence on diversifying experiences beyond typical stereotypes of race and class in literature. Miriam, a Franco-Moroccan mother, exemplifies the tensions that arise when making personal choices about childcare, consciously avoiding hiring someone from her own cultural background. Slimani's nuanced portrayal highlights how societal expectations around race and class complicate personal relationships, suggesting that the complexities of identity in post-colonial France cannot be reduced to simple binaries. This layered approach prompts critical reflection on how narratives are shaped by historical contexts as well as personal conflicts.
Examining Legacy: May 68 and its Impact
The podcast revisits the May 1968 protests in France, assessing their profound historical impact on contemporary society. These events, rooted in youth rebellion against rigid societal norms, sparked debates that reshaped political landscapes and cultural expressions in France. Despite the celebratory recollections of this period, it also reveals a more complicated legacy, suggesting that while some remnants of that spirit endure, systemic changes resulting from the protests were limited. This reflection invites listeners to evaluate how such political movements are remembered and commemorated in the present day, particularly in relation to current socio-political dynamics in France.
Leïla Slimani, President Macron's champion of French culture and language, is interviewed by presenter Shahidha Bari about her new role and her novel Lullaby which won the 2016 Prix Goncourt
Plus Emile Chabal from the University of Edinburgh discusses Savages: The Wedding by Sabri Louatah - a novel imagining the first Arab candidate for President is shot. The TV rights for the quartet of books have been sold and the first book is winning prizes and comparisons with the Neopolitan novels of Elena Ferrante.
Fleur Darkin of Scottish Dance Theatre talks about her stage adaptation of L'Amant by Marguerite Duras, while Julia Waters from the University of Reading explains how the French colonial experience in Indochina informed the work of Duras and other writers.
Lullaby by Leïla Slimani is now published in English in a translation by Sam Taylor.
Savages The Saint-Étienne Quartet Volume 1: The Wedding is written by Sabri Louatah and translated into English by Gavin Bowd.
The Lover, adapted and directed by Fleur Darkin and Jemima Levick, is at the Lyceum, Edinburgh from 20th January to 3rd February.
Producer: Torquil MacLeod.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode