Jacqueline Harpman’s “I Who Have Never Known Men” is a chilling novel originally published in French in 1995. It was recently rereleased in print for the first time since 1997.
This book is unsettling and lingers long after you turn the last page. Harpman captivates readers through speculative fiction mixed with psychological and feminist depths.
The story follows a nameless girl, also referred to as “the girl” or “the youngest,” who is one of 40 women held in an underground cage. The women do not know why they are there, how they got there or when they arrived. The jailers are men in uniforms who never speak to them. They only provide food and supplies and discipline the women when their behavior is unsatisfactory.
The girl was the last to arrive in the cage and was too young to remember the outside world. She knows nothing of freedom or men. Over a decade after her arrival, the women are suddenly released, and the girl steps into a barren world just as silent as the prison they escaped.
The girl’s character development is shocking once they escape the prison. She was once frail and overlooked but quickly becomes the key to the women’s survival in the world above. She becomes strong, dedicated and resilient beyond measure.
After their escape, the novel takes an even more unsettling turn. Once above, the women realize that they might be the only ones left on the planet. Months turn to years and years to decades, where the girl is forced to build a routine, keep journals and continue walking the desolate landscape in search of meaning and life.
The journey of the girl is a quiet one fueled by philosophy, internal struggles and narratives.
What makes this novel so compelling and frustrating for some readers is Harpman’s refusal to give any answers. The book reveals little to nothing about any questions posed in the book, leaving readers feeling just as lost as the girl. The plot does not focus on events but on what it means to exist when society disappears.
There is no traditional climax, no romantic subplot and minimal action, which can make this a slow read for some. Harpman instead focused on asking important questions about society and womanhood. Who are we when everything is taken away? What remains of women without the molding of society, beauty standards and patriarchy?
The girl was never taught to be submissive, soft, desirable or maternal. She feels she is a woman simply because of biology but is otherwise a blank slate. The girl shows readers how deeply gender roles shape our society and who we are.
Another difference between this novel and other recent releases is the lack of structure in Harpman’s writing style. The book does not have chapters, which can make reading it difficult for those who crave a sense of finality.
Harpman wrote “I Who Have Never Known Men” in her 60s, drawing from her experience as a World War II refugee and her background as a psychoanalyst. These influences are very clear throughout the book. Her writing is minimalistic but elegant, appealing to the readers’ emotions, specifically with what is left unsaid.
Reading “I Who Have Never Known Men” might be unsettling, but reading controversial feminist stories is vital. It will challenge readers to imagine a world without societal pressures and serves as a reminder that identity is shaped by those around you, leaving readers wondering who would they be without man.
Rating: 4/5
