In celebration of Fitzcarraldo Editions - A Woman's Story by Annie Ernaux

We have the privilege in the shop to receive proof copies of books that are yet to be published by indie publisher Fitzcarraldo Editions. We absolutely love this publisher for their fresh and trailblazing publications, so much so we have set up a WhatsApp group where we read and exchange the proofs amongst the team members.

For International Women’s Day, we thought we would highlight A Woman’s Story by Annie Ernaux which Suzanne has just finished (translated by Tanya Leslie and due to be published 10th April). Annie’s mother died after years of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She then took to writing a book about her relationship with her mother throughout her life. Suzanne says ‘it is striking how honest it is, she portrays their relationship so vividly I felt like I knew them both throughout it all’. She describes how limiting the opportunities were for her mother when she was young in her local town; work at the local margarine factory or later in the new rope factory. With all the restrictions experienced in a claustrophobic small town her mother was driven to make a better life by setting up as a shop owner. The book describes the consequences of this drive on their relationship and the opportunities this then gave her daughter.

Do come in the shop and look at our current collection, we can of course order other titles for you too.