Véronique Ovaldé Publishes First Personal Narrative About Her Mother, 'Vivre sans bonheur et n'en point dépérir'

Véronique Ovaldé's latest release, *Vivre sans bonheur et n'en point dépérir*, is set to be published by Flammarion in 2026. This marks her inaugural foray into personal storytelling, centering on her mother. The narrative delves into a woman's struggle against societal limitations. One passage illustrates the mother fixing leaks to sustain the family, while her daughters, who admire her kindness, aspire to emulate their father, who mockingly refers to her as 'miss martyre.' Ovaldé, known for her eleven novels such as *Et mon cœur transparent* and *Ce que je sais de Vera Candida*, intertwines autobiography with fiction in this work, highlighting her mother's remarkable sacrifices and happiness. The segment was featured on RFI's *Littérature sans frontières* on 18 September 2026, accompanied by music from Clara Luciani.