Words beyond Memory in Duras's The Lover.

The article discusses Marguerite Duras's novel "The Lover" and its themes of trauma, power dynamics, and identity. The novel tells the story of an affair between a French colonial girl and a Chinese man in pre-World War II Saigon. The narrative style of the novel is described as episodic and enigmatic, with shifts in locations, perspectives, and time frames. The article also explores the disorienting and dislocating effect of the novel's narrative structure, which reflects the uncertainties and dysphoria of lived experiences. The article praises the book for its beauty, passion, and historical acuity, as well as its ability to evoke empathy and fascination with its characters. [Extracted from the article]