Escaping Biography

“Ich werde es zerreissen”—“I’m going to slash it.” So asserted the five- or six-year-old future novelist Nathalie Sarraute to her Swiss governess as she held a pair of scissors above a stuffed armchair. The governess protested. The future novelist held firm: “Yes, I’m going to do it”…There now, I’m freeing myself, excitement and exaltation impel […]