In Papers, author Violaine Schwartz gathers the numerous and varied experiences of those seeking asylum in France. Having survived arduous and often life-threatening journeys from their home countries, the voices of this collection arrived in France only to learn that their odyssey had not yet ended. This is the story of the second half of their travels: through impenetrable bureaucratic systems, senseless administrative demands, and time itself as their wait for official government recognition draws on. A modern epic of human movement and a critique of violence in all its forms, the work is a damning portrait of the conditions of contemporary immigration: the reduction of community to arbitrary borders, shared humanity to anonymous policy, and life to pieces of paper.
About the speakers:
Violaine Schwartz is a French novelist, playwright, singer, and stage actor. Her novel Le Vent dans la bouche was awarded the 2013 Prix Eugène Dabit du Roman Populiste. In addition to writing and performing, she leads writing workshops in a variety of settings. Papers is her first book to be published in English.
Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (Schwartz and Gutman will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
This event requires advance registration.
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