Progress and prejudice: rethinking Françoise Sagan’s legacy

Abstract

Who better than Françoise Sagan to exhibit the privileges of the postwar White writer? This wealthy novelist, better known for her excesses than for her activism, appears very distant from the decolonial question, and it may seem inappropriate, even indecent, to associate her name with it. However, her literary career is guided by a struggle against discrimination and a stance in favor of social justice. Although her contribution has remained completely invisible, it is crucial to understand her literary journey. As a writer, Sagan denounced the segregation of African Americans, opposed the War in Algeria, advocated for gay rights, and took a position in favor of abortion as early as 1965. But what resonance did her voice have in the francophone landscape during the period of independence movements? This article aims to revisit the epistemological significance of a struggle overlooked today in postcolonial studies. Therefore, this study tackles the thorny question of the influence of the White writer through the analysis of Françoise Sagan.