Greta Sala

Comment écrire la dévastation ? Documenter, filtrer et réélaborer le réel dans Bawwābāt arḍ al-ʻadam et al-Maššā’a de Samar Yazbik

Introduction

Comment écrire la dévastation ? documenter, filtrer et réélaborer le réel dans bawwābāt arḍ al-ʻadam et al-maššā’a de samar yazbik . Comment écrire la dévastation ? Découvrez l'analyse de Samar Yazbik sur la Syrie, de la documentation à la narration littéraire, explorant fiction, réel et trauma dans ses romans.

Abstract

The upheavals that have shaken Syria since 2011 have profoundly impacted the evolution of the literary sphere. This is particularly evident when examining the transformation of the relationship between fiction and reality in the novelistic production of the past fourteen years. While many works published immediately after the revolution aimed to objectively describe the ongoing events, more recent novels have moved away from a documentary approach, towards a more literary narration of the Syrian tragedy. It is precisely this process of reworking reality that this article aims to explore, drawing on Bawwābāt arḍ al-ʻadam (2015) and al-Maššā’a (2017) by Samar Yazbik. By establishing a dialogue between Yazbik’s 2017 novel and her earlier hybrid-form work, both dealing with the Syrian war, this study first analyses the distinct ways these texts approach reality and fiction, then focuses on the filtering role of imagination in transforming dramatic events into literary material. It also delves into the narrative fragmentation of al-Maššā’a, which formally translates the psychological dissociation characteristic of the traumatized subject. Through this novel, Yazbik sheds the urgency of documentation that marked her writing at the beginning of the revolutionary phase, thereby creating an aesthetically crafted narrative that, far from falsifying reality, allows even its most obscure aspects to become intelligible.

Review

The article, "Comment écrire la dévastation ? Documenter, filtrer et réélaborer le réel dans Bawwābāt arḍ al-ʻadam et al-Maššā’a de Samar Yazbik," proposes a timely and pertinent exploration of the evolving relationship between fiction and reality in contemporary Syrian literature. Focusing on the post-2011 period, the author aims to trace how novelistic production has transitioned from immediate documentary accounts of the Syrian upheavals to more literary and aesthetically crafted narratives. By centering on two key works by Samar Yazbik, *Bawwābāt arḍ al-ʻadam* (2015) and *al-Maššā’a* (2017), the study promises to offer significant insights into the intricate process of reworking traumatic real-world events into compelling literary material. A particular strength of this research lies in its comparative analysis of Yazbik’s novels, effectively demonstrating a clear progression in her approach to depicting the Syrian tragedy. The abstract highlights the intention to delve into the "filtering role of imagination" and the "narrative fragmentation" of *al-Maššā’a*, positing the latter as a formal reflection of psychological dissociation in traumatized subjects. This promises a sophisticated engagement with both literary form and the psychological impact of conflict. The argument that Yazbik moves beyond the "urgency of documentation" to create "an aesthetically crafted narrative" that makes even "obscure aspects" of reality intelligible without falsification is a compelling and nuanced contribution to the field of war literature and trauma studies. Overall, the article presents a well-structured and intellectually rigorous examination of Samar Yazbik's significant contributions to Syrian war literature. The analytical framework appears robust, offering a valuable lens through which to understand not only Yazbik's individual trajectory but also broader trends in post-conflict literary production. While the abstract thoroughly outlines the core arguments, a brief mention of potential theoretical frameworks (e.g., trauma theory, autofiction, testimonio) or a glimpse into the broader implications for understanding truth and representation in politically charged contexts would further underscore the article's scholarly impact. Based on the scope and analytical depth outlined, this paper is highly recommended for publication.

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