Nina Yargekov and Hélène Ling: Two Novels on Imposture
Artpress reviews two novels by French authors Hélène Ling and Nina Yargekov, both exploring themes of imposture and irony. Ling's "Repentirs" follows Simon Veyne, a former May 68 rebel turned official postmodern artist, narrated by an unsuccessful historian. Yargekov's "Vous serez mes témoins" satirizes grief imposture through a trial of a woman accused of faking mourning after a friend's suicide, featuring absurd experts. Both books critique opportunism and emotional manipulation from the 1960s to the present.
Key facts
- Hélène Ling, born 1973, wrote 'Repentirs' after 'Lieux-dits'.
- Nina Yargekov, born 1980, wrote 'Vous serez mes témoins' after 'Tuer Catherine'.
- Ling's novel traces Simon Veyne from May 68 rebel to official artist.
- Yargekov's novel is a trial about a woman accused of faking grief.
- The review appears in artpress on May 21, 2011.
- Both authors are independent of literary coteries.
- Yargekov's novel includes characters like a judicial coach and a freelance witch.
- Ling's novel is described as a sentimental education of the late 20th century.
Entities
Artists
- Hélène Ling
- Nina Yargekov
- Simon Veyne
- Thomas Bernhard
- Tacite
- William Faulkner
Institutions
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Florence
- Italy
Sources
- artpress —