I Who Have Never Known Men

I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jaqueline Harpmen, translated from French by Ros Schwartz, is an incredibly unique story of growth, strength, and the unity that can be developed by the unknown. It follows an unnamed main character as she looks back on her inexplicable teenage years, which she spent locked in a bunker with thirty-nine other women, and what happens when the forty of them finally escape. As the youngest of the group, she is othered by the older women and unable to recall any details of the outside world. The monotony of her captivity leads her to develop an active imagination and many unusual skills. 

Experiencing the story from the point of view of our main character, we as readers see she has matured with age but is still able to remember her specifically teenage feelings amidst complete abnormality.  This makes for an extremely immersive read. As you read these intense situations, you’re provided with clarity that only comes with the main character’s growth, but at the same time, you’re submerged into vivid retellings of specific moments, emotions, relationships, and settings. This perspective makes the entire story feel so much more real and impactful, and characters become more three-dimensional.

Additionally, I think it’s important to pay attention to when this book was written. It was published in 1995, written by a woman born in 1929. The themes and subtext of this novel were largely ahead of the curve, having messages of female solidarity and how societal abuse of women is often overlooked. I would group this book with the influential writing of Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, both sharing dystopian and feminist elements. I Who Have Never Known Men has recently had a resurgence of popularity with the online reading community, and I think it’s no coincidence. Its themes of autonomy and liberation still ring true today, especially in our current political state.

It’s also important to note that this book was not originally written in English. It was first published in French and translated into English later on. Having read a few other translated works from French, Spanish, and Japanese, I can say the translation for this book is incredibly well done. A few times, I’ve felt that a translated piece of work loses some of its original artistic writing style in place of the most accurate translation, oftentimes resulting in clunkier or more boring sentences, but I don’t think this book does that. While reading, you honestly can’t tell it was translated.

If I had to describe this book in one word, I’d choose immersive. You feel what the main character feels, as if you're experiencing it all with her. Every high and low, all the confusion, frustration, relief, and happiness. This book is a masterclass in emotion. I highly recommend checking it out!