Table of Contents

Introduction
I. Watching the World Go By
Chapter One: Absolute Clarity: Michel Houellebecq’s La carte et le territoire
Chapter Two: Dérive psychose géographique: Chloé Delaume’s J’habite dans la télévision
II. Getting Up to Speed
Chapter Three: Planetary Ambitions: Lydie Salvayre’s Portrait de l’écrivain en animal domestique
Chapter Four: Décalage Permanent: Jean-Philippe Toussaint’s Fuir
III. Falling Through the Cracks
Chapter Five: A Tale of Two Frances: Virginie Despentes’s Vernon Subutex Trilogy
Chapter Six: Deep Dérive: Philippe Vasset’s La conjuration
IV. Making Room
Chapter Seven: Asymmetrical Tactics: Jean Rolin’s Ormuz
Chapter Eight: Sense of Planet: Marie Darrieussecq’s Le pays
Conclusion
Works Cited

About the Author

Joshua Armstrong is an Associate Professor of French in the Department of French & Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Reviews

'This book importantly addresses questions that are at the very heart of contemporary debates about our relationship to space and places in a world where borders and distance are being redefined by the forces of globalization.'
Jean-Xavier Ridon, University of Nottingham

'Its wide-ranging corpus, ambitious scope, and nuanced readings make Armstrong’s study an essential starting point for anyone interested in the current state of contemporary French fiction, and a persuasive account of the concerted way in which that fiction is capturing the profound social, physical, and psychical effects of globalization.'
Edward Welch, Modern Language Review

'[The book] provides insightful examples of how the French view their own sense of belonging within the dynamics of new territories and realities. [...] Maps and Territories is extremely useful for scholars of contemporary French novels. His clear prose and thoughtful commentary help explain the unease that a changing postwar France experiences today. Thanks to Armstrong's thoughtful analysis, we better understand pressures facing an ever-increasing urbanized society in France and the world.'
Kory Olson, L'Esprit Créateur