Noëlle Revaz's Debut Novel Explores Primal World Through Invented Language
Noëlle Revaz's debut novel, 'Rapport aux bêtes,' released in 2002, delves into the unsettling environment of a farm, featuring a peasant couple alongside a Portuguese laborer in an ambiguous locale. The story centers on Paul’s wife, Vulve, who expresses herself physically. While the book serves as a metaphor, it remains rooted in a brutal and violent reality. Revaz crafts a unique language that blends oral tradition with learned vocabulary, rich in complex terms and assonances. The character name Vulve symbolizes the man's disdain for the woman. The narrative juxtaposes archaic elements with survival instincts, examining existence through voice and language. This review is authored by Patrick Amine.
Key facts
- Noëlle Revaz's first novel is titled 'Rapport aux bêtes'.
- The novel was originally titled 'Vulve'.
- The story is set on a farm with a peasant couple, a Portuguese worker, and other characters.
- The setting is deliberately unplaceable and outside marked contemporary fiction.
- The female protagonist is named Vulve, reflecting her husband's contempt.
- Revaz invents a language that is half-oral, half-learned, with assonances and a heterogeneous palette.
- The novel explores harsh, violent, primitive aspects of the world.
- The review was written by Patrick Amine and published in artpress in July 2002.
Entities
Artists
- Noëlle Revaz
- Patrick Amine
Institutions
- artpress
Locations
- Lausanne
- Switzerland
Sources
- artpress —