Elise ou la Vraie Vie

"This novel is probably well known to many students and teachers of French literature and contemporary French studies. First published in 1967, it was awarded the prestigious Prix Femina and was praised by the Left for its exposure of racism and its critique of the alienation of capitalism, and reviled by the Right for being supposedly `anti-French' in its sympathy for Algerians and the terrorism of the FLN... The introduction to the text is very good indeed, clear and informative, logically arranged, moving from introducing the author to explaining the political context of the French-Algerian war, and then on to key aspects of the novel and its structure. It certainly enriched my reading of the novel. `Elise' is eminently suitable as a teaching tool for French studies as well as for literature courses and it is a welcome addition to this most useful series." Claire Duchen