Albertine Sarrazin
Encyclopedia
Albertine Sarrazin was a French
author most famous for her semi-autobiographical novel
L'Astragale.
, Algeria
, she was quickly abandoned and put in the care of the social services
, being then christened Albertine Damien in honour of the saint
of the day she was found on. She was then adopted
by a family that moved her to Aix-en-Provence
, being abused
by a family member and constantly quarreling with them, which led to an intense distaste for authority
that stayed with her the rest of her life.
Although she was intelligent and did well in her studies, Albertine's family sent her to a reformatory
school in Marseille
. She escaped to Paris
where she satisfied her thirst for literature
and art
while dabbling in prostitution
. In 1953, a bungled hold-up had her sent to Fresnes Prison
. Upon escaping (and breaking her ankle
in the process) she met Julien Sarrazin, and the two were soon married. The two continued to live lives of crime
, spending time in and out of jail and keeping contact through letters.
In prison, Sarrazin wrote her first novels, L'Astragale and La Cavale, which were published after her release in 1964 (the astragale of the title is the French word for the talus bone
, which both she and the main character of her novel broke on their escapes from jail). Their success allowed the married couple to settle in Montpellier
where she wrote her third story, La Traversière. The novel also performed well, but she died shortly afterwards from complications during a kidney
surgery; she was only 29 years old.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
author most famous for her semi-autobiographical novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
L'Astragale.
Biography
Born in AlgiersAlgiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, she was quickly abandoned and put in the care of the social services
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, being then christened Albertine Damien in honour of the saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the day she was found on. She was then adopted
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
by a family that moved her to Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, being abused
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
by a family member and constantly quarreling with them, which led to an intense distaste for authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
that stayed with her the rest of her life.
Although she was intelligent and did well in her studies, Albertine's family sent her to a reformatory
Reformatory
Reformatory is a term that has had varied meanings within the penal system, depending on the jurisdiction and the era. It may refer to a youth detention center, or an adult correctional facility. The term is still in popular use for adult facilities throughout the United States, although most...
school in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. She escaped to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where she satisfied her thirst for literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
while dabbling in prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. In 1953, a bungled hold-up had her sent to Fresnes Prison
Fresnes Prison
Fresnes Prison is the second largest prison in France, located in the town of Fresnes, Val-de-Marne South of Paris...
. Upon escaping (and breaking her ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
in the process) she met Julien Sarrazin, and the two were soon married. The two continued to live lives of crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
, spending time in and out of jail and keeping contact through letters.
In prison, Sarrazin wrote her first novels, L'Astragale and La Cavale, which were published after her release in 1964 (the astragale of the title is the French word for the talus bone
Talus bone
-External links:* *...
, which both she and the main character of her novel broke on their escapes from jail). Their success allowed the married couple to settle in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
where she wrote her third story, La Traversière. The novel also performed well, but she died shortly afterwards from complications during a kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
surgery; she was only 29 years old.