Marie de Gournay was eighteen when she read, and was overwhelmed by, the essays of the French philosopher Montaigne. She had to be revived with hellebore. When she finally met Montaigne, she stabbed herself with a hairpin until the blood ran in order to show her devotion. He made her his adopted daughter for the two months they knew each other. He died four years later, after which, though scorned by intellectuals, she became his editor. Jenny Diski engages with this passionate and confused relationship between 'father and daughter', old writer/young acolyte, possible lovers, using both their voices. Much of their story is about absence of the people they love. In Jenny Diski's hands it becomes a fascinating tale.
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"Not only illuminates an undeservedly little-known episode of literary history, it also demonstrates a rare subtlety and sense of moral ambiguity of restrained devotion transformed by the writer's incisive eye, into art." —Times
"Diski has cleverly adapted the historical sources to fashion an exceedingly literary novel . . . Diski's cool, modulated prose exhibits the moderation so prized by Montaigne." —Independent
"A fascinating story, which Diski brings vividly to life. . . . After finishing the novel, anyone who hasn't read Montaigne will wish to head for the classics section of the nearest bookshop." —Daily Mail
"Powerful . . . Jenny Diski leaves you with plenty to think about, and wanting more." —New York Times Book Review on The Sixties
"A transcendent work." —Publishers Weekly on Stranger on a Train
About the Author
Jenny Diski is the author of nine novels including ONLY HUMAN and three memoirs: SKATING TO ANTARTICA, STRANGER ON A TRAIN and ON TRYING TO KEEP STILL. She lives in Cambridge.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
What an unpleasant main character,
By Susan Wiser (Lincoln, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Apology for the Woman Writing (Paperback)
I read this book because of my current interest in novels set in France. This one takes place during the late 1500's, which is a period I know little about and the premise sounded interesting. I was very disappointed, however. Although the quality of the writing is good (that's why I ranked it with 2 stars instead of 1), I found the main character of the novel intensely irritating. She is a self-absorbed, arrogant, socially obtuse person. And on top of that she is a mediocre writer. Further, the story of her life isn't especially interesting. I wonder what the author hoped to achieve with this book. At least it gave me an excuse to make myself learn a bit more about the Huguenots, who are mentioned in passing.
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