Annie Ernaux's 'Les Années': A Collective Autobiography

Annie Ernaux's book 'Les Années' (Éditions Gallimard) opens with the line 'All images will disappear,' setting the stage for an 'impersonal autobiography' that uses 'she,' 'one,' and 'we' instead of 'I.' The work reconstructs a common time by merging individual memory with collective memory, spanning from childhood in the mid-20th century—including details like tonsil operations, wooden clogs, and Robic winning the Tour de France—to political events such as the Algerian War, May 1968, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Mitterrand's 1981 election. Ernaux draws on personal photos to evoke both intimate and historical moments. However, the reviewer questions the universality of her 'we,' noting that her left-leaning perspective may not represent all, and points out factual inaccuracies, such as describing the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II as 'suriné' (stabbed) when he was shot. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer praises Ernaux's refusal of conventional morality, lyricism, and pathos, as well as her audacity and mastery of writing. The book's ultimate aim is to 'save something from the time where we will never be again,' echoing Cézanne's urgency to paint before the world disappears.