The Witch (novel)
| Author | Marie NDiaye |
|---|---|
| Original title | La sorcière |
| Translator | Jordan Stump |
| Language | French |
| Publisher | Les Éditions de Minuit (1996, original), MacLehose Press (2026, English translation) |
| Publication date | 1996 |
English publication date | 2026 |
The Witch (French: La sorcière) is a 1996 novel written by French author Marie NDiaye. The novel follows the life of Lucie, a witch of mediocre skill. The English translation by Jordan Stump was shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize.
Premise
[edit]Lucie is a witch who lives in a provincial French town. Her magic abilities are mediocre compared to her mother's abilities - she is only able to foresee certain types of trivia. Her husband has forbidden her to perform magic, but against his wishes, Lucie teaches her 12-year-old twin daughters to perform magic; they turn out to be more powerful than Lucie imagined.
Reception
[edit]Contemporary reception was mixed. Lucie L. Dehon of The French Review in a mixed review called the novel "pleasant", but commented that NDiaye, in her previous novels, created female protagonists "without psychological depth, who move from one situation to another without a motive to their actions", and stated that The Witch followed the same trend.[1] Charlotte H. Bruner in a review for World Literature Today wrote that NDiaye's novel was "heavy-handed" and that her characters failed to "engage the reader", and criticized the lack of resolution for certain plotlines.[2] Pierre Lepape, writing for Le Monde, commented that NDiaye "stands out first and foremost for her originality" and praised the prose; he concluded that The Witch was "above all a delightful book written with pleasure, for the pleasure of itself and for that of its readers."[3]
The 2026 English translation received warmer reviews. The New York Times in its review called it "taut, spellbinding and strange" and praised Stump's translation as "artful"; Kirkus Reviews called the novel "unsettling and evocative" and praised Stump's translation.[4][5] Kristen Roupenian in a positive review for The New Yorker, praised the novel's humour.[6] The novel was shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ Dehon, Claire L. (1998). "Review of La Sorcière". The French Review. 71 (4): 678–679. ISSN 0016-111X. JSTOR 398883. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ Bruner, Charlotte H. (1997). "Review of La sorcière". World Literature Today. 71 (3): 638–639. doi:10.2307/40152982. ISSN 0196-3570. JSTOR 40152982. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ Lepape, Pierre (19 September 2023) [6 September 1996]. "« La Sorcière », de Marie NDiaye, délicieux sortilège en zone pavillonnaire". Le Monde. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ Eakin, Emily (30 March 2026). "The Witch's Magic Is Feeble, but Her Story Casts a Spell". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ "THE WITCH | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ Roupenian, Kristen (6 April 2026). "In Marie NDiaye's Spellbinding New Novel, Witchcraft Stays in the Family". The New Yorker. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ Loffhagen, Emma (31 March 2026). "'Hope, insight and burning humanity': 2026 International Booker prize shortlist announced". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
