Little has been written about Suzanne Beckett, née Déchevaux-Dumesnil (1900–1989). As Samuel Beckett's lifelong companion, she found herself in a peculiar quandary, owing to the amounts of support required by Beckett's unease with success and with the business of writing, and owing to her deep awareness of the damage that fame can cause to everyday life, friendships, and freedom. This Element offers the first full portrait of this elusive figure. It contextualises the texts she wrote under the name Suzanne Dumesnil, emphasises the significance of her artistic and literary accomplishments, and discusses her steady labour, her uncompromising discretion, and her profound reluctance to ever become a public figure as Beckett's wife.
By:
Emilie Morin (University of York)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Weight: 259g
ISBN: 9781009585576
ISBN 10: 1009585576
Series: Elements in Beckett Studies
Pages: 84
Publication Date: 24 July 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
1. Introduction: silent companion; 2. Argenteuil, Tunis, Paris (1900–1938); 3. Suzanne after Beckett, from 1938 to the war's aftermath; 4. The writings of Suzanne Dumesnil; 5. The quiet work of Suzanne Beckett; 6. Portraits in different shades; 7. Conclusion; References.
