Jump to content

All Our Worldly Goods

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All Our Worldly Goods
AuthorIrène Némirovsky
Original titleLes Biens de ce monde
TranslatorSandra Smith
LanguageFrench
PublisherÉditions Albin Michel
Publication date
1 January 1947
Publication placeFrance
Published in English
2009
Media typepaperback
Pages268

Les Biens de ce monde (All Our Worldly Goods) is a novel by Irène Némirovsky, published posthumously in 1947 by Éditions Albin Michel.[1] Némirovsky had written the novel before her death in 1942, but it was only after the war that her works, including this novel, were brought to light and published.[2]

Plot

[edit]

The story is set in the early 20th century and follows the lives of the Hardelot family, who run a paper mill in the small town of Saint-Elme, France. The novel centers on Pierre Hardelot, who is expected to marry Simone, a woman chosen by his family. However, Pierre is in love with Agnès, a girl from a lower social class. Defying his family’s wishes, Pierre marries Agnès, leading to a series of conflicts and challenges. The narrative spans both World Wars, depicting the impact of these tumultuous times on the Hardelot family and their business.

Némirovsky’s writing captures the social dynamics and personal struggles of the characters, offering a poignant look at love, duty, and societal expectations.

Reception

[edit]

Culture Critic, assessed critical response as an aggregated score of 90% based on British press reviews.[3] Globally, Complete Review saying on the consensus "Solid Suite française-forerunner".[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "All Our Worldly Goods". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  2. ^ "The Némirovsky Question: The Life, Death, and Legacy of a Jewish Writer in Twentieth-Century France 9780300224542". dokumen.pub. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Irène Némirovsky – All Our Worldly Goods". Culture Critic. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. ^ "All Our Worldly Goods". Complete Review. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.