Happening
Collection Blanche cover (first edition)
AuthorAnnie Ernaux
Original titleL'Événement
TranslatorTanya Leslie
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
GenreMemoir
PublisherÉditions Gallimard
Publication date
14 March 2000
Published in English
2001
Media typePrint
Pages114
ISBN978-2-07-075801-2
OCLC43803401

Happening (French: L'Événement) is a 2000 memoir[1][2] by Annie Ernaux.

Synopsis

Set in 1963, four years before the legalization of oral contraception in France and twelve years before the Veil Act, the autobiographical narrative describes the troubles a young student faces when seeking out an illegal abortion. The story begins by depicting how she waited at Lariboisière Hospital for the result of a serology examination for HIV and how she "burst out laughing" as the result was "negative". Following this she speaks about a similar gruelling experience of finding out her pregnancy and the consequences such as hiding it from her parents and public, searching for a doctor who would illegally abort the child, revealing pregnancy to some close ones for help in abortion and the horror of abortion itself, which is the rest of the book. Entries from her journal frame the events from the first three months of her pregnancy to the abortion and recovery.

Reception

Claire Devarrieux of Libération wrote that Ernaux's story "transcends individuality".[3] Emily Eakin of The New York Times Book Review wrote, "As subject matter goes, little could be more inherently provocative. Ernaux's take is all the more so for being unabashedly philosophical rather than moral."[4] Joy Press of The Village Voice wrote, "Ernaux connects her experience to the wider world of class and religion and law, resulting in a startling, unusual portrait of how a vagina really lives in the world."[5]

Film adaptation

In 2021, the book was adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Audrey Diwan.[6] The film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival where it received the top prize, the Golden Lion.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Akbar, Arifa (17 March 2019). "In brief: Happening; Flotsam; The Burning Chambers – reviews". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Donnelly, Niamh (16 February 2019). "Happening review: An investigation of 'the reality of an unforgettable event'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Devarrieux, Claire (23 March 2000). "Riche et célèbre. La méthode Ernaux est fiable". Libération (in French). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Eakin, Emily (28 October 2001). "The 'Thing'". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Press, Joy (6 November 2001). "Vagina Monologues". The Village Voice. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Fabre, Clarisse (12 September 2021). "L'Evénement, d'Audrey Diwan, un film sur l'avortement, remporte le Lion d'or à Venise". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "L'Événement". 78th Venice International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (11 September 2021). "Venice Film Festival: 'L'Événement' Wins Golden Lion, 'Hand Of God' Takes Grand Jury Prize, Jane Campion Best Director, Penelope Cruz Best Actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal Best Screenplay – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
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