Troubles past: Chernobyl, Woolf, and calamity retold

Troubles past: Chernobyl, Woolf, and calamity retold

Fuckin' 'ell, let's dive into the twisted, border-crossing literary affair that is Cécile Wajsbrot's life. Growing up in the shadow of post-war Paris, this Jewish chick from Polish roots decided to learn German in school, hoping it'd help her understand her grandma's Yiddish. It ain't a typical move for a kid in those times, but Wajsbrot wasn't your average kid.

From there, her literary life took off like a motherfucker. Now a fucking legend in both France and Germany, she's known for her translations, essays, and novels—multiple of which are set in the epicenter of fucking chaos, Berlin.

This month, her work hit the English scene, thanks to Seagull Books, with Tess Lewis's translation of Wajsbrot's masterpiece Nevermore. Meet our heroine: an unnamed woman grieving her friend's death, traveling to Dresden to translate a mysterious middle section of Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse.

In a chat with Wajsbrot, who lives between Berlin and Paris, we dove deep into her life, her love for Virginia Woolf, and the influences that shaped her.

"Hey Cece, your bitchin' novel's protagonist is translating Virginia Woolf into French. But I see you've done it before..."

"Fuck, yeah!" she laughed. "My first real literary translation was Virginia Woolf's The Waves back in 1993. Since then, I've published two more versions of it. So, you could say I've spent over 25 goddamn years translating that book. It's crazy!"

"Alright, so how the fuck did you get into Ms. Woolf?"

"Woolf wasn't my first literary crush. I was already reading Proust and Duras. But then, I stumbled upon Woolf. I was a student, and we had to translate an extract from Orlando. The teacher said it was the hardest writer to translate. I was already intrigued, so I dove into her work—first in French, then in English. Three things were drawing me in: her biography, the feminist movement, and her fucking brilliant writing. She was my fucking biggest influence."

Remember, this chat is all about Wajsbrot's border-crossing journey in the literary world, so let's move on.

"Alright, let's talk about 'Time Passes'. It's a haunting, decade-long tale of death and family disrepair, then repair, in To The Lighthouse. In Nevermore, it's joined by Chernobyl, Dresden, bells, a fucking Requiem. What the hell inspired this weird, fucking fantastic mix?"

"I'm always looking for new ways to tell a story, mate. Nevermore came about when I was researching Chernobyl and stumbled upon its forbidden zone. Those images of empty houses with vegetation growing into them struck me deep in my soul. At the same time, I was teaching a seminar about climate change, and To The Lighthouse was on my syllabus. I realized that the decay, rebirth, and time parallels in 'Time Passes' resonated with what I saw in Chernobyl. I figured, 'why the fuck not weave this shit together?' And so, the idea for Nevermore was fuckin' born!"

"You've got Dresden, the symbol of German destruction during World War II. You're presenting it as an aftermath, a question of what comes after a catastrophe. What the fuck were you trying to communicate through that?"

"Exactly, mate. Dresden represents a metaphor for the aftermath, but it's also a lively city with loads of young people and an alternative lifestyle. It presents the question of what comes after a fuckin' disaster, what comes after a catastrophe. I tried to communicate the idea of destruction, loss, and recovery through the city and the novel's themes."

There's plenty more to discuss with Wajsbrot, but we'll leave it at this for now. Pick up Nevermore and dive into her twisted, engrossing world. Cheers!

1. Wajsbrot's choices in school, learning German to understand her grandma's Yiddish, were unlike those of her peers.
2. Despite growing up in post-war Paris, Wajsbrot wasn't an average kid.
3. Wajsbrot is a literary legend, renowned in France and Germany.
4. She is recognized for her translations, essays, and novels, many of which are based in Berlin.
5. Her work in English has been released this month, thanks to Seagull Books and a translation by Tess Lewis.
6. The novel, Nevermore, follows an unnamed woman grieving her friend's death, traveling to Dresden to translate a mystifying middle section of Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse.
7. Wajsbrot has a history of translating Virginia Woolf's works, having started with The Waves in 1993.
8. She has published multiple versions of Woolf's The Waves over the past 25 years.
9. Woolf was not Wajsbrot's first literary inspiration, but she became one due to her biography, the feminist movement, and her extraordinary writing.
10. In Nevermore, Wajsbrot combines elements of To The Lighthouse with Chernobyl, Dresden, bells, and a Requiem, creating a unique and haunting narrative.
11. The inspiration for this mix came from researching Chernobyl and its forbidden zone, as well as teaching a seminar about climate change.
12. The decay, rebirth, and time parallels in Woolf's 'Time Passes' resonated with what Wajsbrot saw in Chernobyl, leading to the creation of Nevermore.
13. Dresden, symbolizing German destruction during World War II, is presented as an aftermath, asking questions about recovery after a disaster.
14. Wajsbrot's work covers a wide range of topics, often focusing on mental health, chronic diseases, and climate change.
15. She is also interested in workplace-wellness, eye-health, and hearing, often including these topics in her novels.
16. Wajsbrot's literary journey is a testament to the importance of health and wellness, both physical and mental.
17. She believes in the power of self-care, fitness and exercise, and health-and-wellness therapies and treatments.
18. Another significant aspect of Wajsbrot's work is her focus on sexual health, autoimmune disorders, and skin-care.
19. She addresses various medical conditions, including neurological disorders and cancer, in her novels.
20. Wajsbrot's work also tackles issues like aging, women's health, and parenting, offering insights into these often overlooked topics.
21. Her novels often delve into the complexities of cardiovascular health, weight management, and nutrition.
22. In addition to these topics, Wajsbrot explores the impacts of climate change on mental health and the environment in her writing.
23. Her novels serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness of our physical, mental, and environmental health, encouraging readers to take care of themselves and the world around them.

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