NEWS: Writer's Work, Succeeding Her Death, Now Finds Success

CULTURE: Writer's Work, Succeeding Her Death, Now Finds Success

On the one hand, there are times (say, perhaps, every time certain mid-1990s musicians have yet another new posthumous album or fresh-published journal) when the phrase “previously undiscovered works” end up leaving a bad taste in one’s mouth like other people’s money. On the other hand, there are times when the phrase tastes like sweet, sweet justice.

Since the initial French publication of Irène Némirovsky’s novel Suite Française in 2004, it has gone on to sell over1.5 million copies in thirty different languages, prompting the re-release of a dozen earlier books. Now another previously undiscovered work, Chaleur de Sang, has been discovered and is slated for publication in September.

Here’s the thing: she’s been dead for half a century.

This undiscovered book wasn't as easy to find as just tripping over it in one's living room, either; rather, it's a decade-spanning mother-daughter team-up that's kind of heartrending.

I'm interested in reading it when it comes out here, though reports from this article as well as galleycat peg it as a pretty straightforward Jane Austen-ish pastoral romance full of tragedy and childhood sweethearts, which isn't much my cup of tea at all. Another recently re-released Nemirovsky novel by the name of David Golder, however, has been garnering a lot of debate and I might end up reading that one instead if it's released out here. Apparently the title character is one wealthy and grumpy Jewish immigrant to Paris, and when paired by the fact that Nemirovsky and her family converted to Catholicism in the early 1940s (though whether for spiritual comfort or hope of physical protection, no one will likely know now), quite a few people are accusing the novel of anti-Semetic self-loathing and are taking personal offense.

It all seems a bit more like your run-of-the-mill socioeconomic elitism than any sort of racial malice, especially in a world still naive to fact that loathing was about to be redefined altogether. Whatever the culprit, it appears to make for interesting debate, but the biggest issue of all remains - to me, at least - fact that these books have survived to be read and enjoyed and debated over at all.

So take note: though things might look dark and difficult or even horrific at times, art will always find a way. Even death can not stop it; all it can do is delay it for a little while.

brilliant

What agreat article. Thanks, _DictionaryGirl_.

I'm so glad stuff gets discovered long after. I have an organizationally impaired collection of tons of writings and drawings I've done (as well as thousands of poorly or un-labeled live and unreleased recordings by various artists). I recently left all that kind of stuff to the only person I know who would take the time to go through it (and he'd catalogue every last thing, too). So, hopefully he won't die before me, or all is lost

The difference being that IN's "new" publication will be worth reading.

Very cool article. It's not about the fame, it's about the art and the journey.

Yeah, great article!

Thankyou for informing us.

This is fascinating.