Marguerite Duras, L'Amant [The Lover]

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L’Amant

[

The Lover

], one of Marguerite Duras’s best-known works, was published in 1984 by Les Éditions de Minuit and received the 1984 Goncourt Prize. Set in 1920s Indochina, the novel was re-written and published in a modified version as

L’Amant de la Chine du Nord

[

The North China Lover

] in 1991. Widely recognized as a literary masterpiece written in an experimental style,

L’Amant

brings into focus the themes of self-quest and desire.

In her book, Marguerite Duras employs many of the narrative devices commonly associated with the Nouveau Roman: repetitive scenes, alternating perspectives offered by first and third person narrative voices, flashbacks, and a self-reflective style. As the writer attempts to defy the time by making an effort to revive a significant event from her

2171 words

Citation: Visoi, Marie-Anne. "L'Amant". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 April 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=20529, accessed 25 November 2024.]

20529 L'Amant 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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