Représenter et habiter le lieu dans les romans contemporains français dédiés à la vieillesse en institution
Abstract
This article aims to observe the modalities of literary appropriation of institutional space in six care home narratives: Le Long Séjour by Régine Detambel (1991), Rhésus by Héléna Marienské (2006), On n'est pas là pour disparaître by Olivia Rosenthal (2007), Nous vieillirons ensemble by Camille by Peretti (2008), Les Gratitudes by Delphine de Vigan (2019) and Le Tiers Temps by Maylis Besserie (2020). From a lexical point of view, these novels work on a specific vocabulary, however revealing the need to put some distance towards it. From a narrative and descriptive point of view, all the tensions and dissensions that take place in care home are examined: between security and freedom, intimacy and promiscuity, individuality and collectivity, caregivers and patients. This study requires attention to how inhabitants’ voices and experiences are listened to.
