The Ravishing of Lol Stein

Back of the Book

The Ravishing of Lol Stein is a haunting early novel by the author of The Lover. Lol Stein is a beautiful young woman, securely married, settled in a comfortable life—and a voyeur. Returning with her husband and children to the town where, years before, her fiancé had abandoned her for another woman, she is drawn inexorably to recreate that long-past tragedy. She arranges a rendezvous for her friend Tatiana and Tatiana’s lover. She arranges to spy on them. And then, she goes one step further . . .

Why You Should Read It

From an initially unknown but deeply compulsive perspective, Duras first allows her readers to observe the jilted, woebegone Lol Stein as she recovers from a painfully slow heartbreak. Duras’s prose is seductive but sparse and to the point; the objects of her sentences build to create mise-en-scènes, which then sustain an enveloping ambience. Her writing resists: no patience for platitudes, no presentations of wisdom or affirmations, no leveraging characters’ circumstances for moral examples. In many ways, Lol Stein reads not unlike a play, suspended in an atmosphere of hazy desire and curiosity, the rapt perspective of its narrator a conduit for the reader. We seem to observe Lol from the outside, as obsessed with her beauty and tragedy as the narrator himself. His interest in Lol’s inaccessibility develops our own intrigue, and in a game of literary seduction, both reader and narrator attempt to capture Lol Stein. Eventually, Duras allows us to transcend the image of Lol Stein, the archetype and character, and access Lol, the woman in pursuit of love. With this revelation, the reader must face their own positioning.

Memorable Passage

That she had so completely recovered her sanity was a source of sadness to her. One should never be cured of one's passion.

About the Author

Marguerite Duras (1914–1996) was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker whose extraordinary literary contributions have left an indelible mark on 20th-century literature and cinema. Best known for her novel The Lover, which won the Prix Goncourt in 1984, Duras's writing is characterized by its intense emotional depth and innovative narrative techniques. Her exploration of themes such as colonialism, love, and existentialism reflects a profound engagement with the complexities of the human condition. Beyond her literary achievements, Duras was a prominent figure in French cinema, directing films such as "Hiroshima Mon Amour." Duras is worth knowing for her ability to convey the ineffable through language, her fearless examination of personal and societal taboos, and her significant impact on the evolution of both literature and film. Her unique voice and willingness to challenge conventions make Marguerite Duras a literary luminary whose legacy continues to captivate and inspire readers and cinephiles alike.

Further Reading

“On Marguerite Duras” by Rachel Kushner, The New Yorker
Marguerite Duras: A Life by Laurie Adler