The genre of names: biofiction in contemporary French literature

This article looks at the genre of biofiction, or “imaginary life” as it is more commonly known in French, reflecting on its origins and considering its cultural meanings through examples drawn from French literary production in the early 21st century. It tries to highlight how biofiction redefines the boundaries of biography and fiction, creating a genre that emphasizes individuality, memory, and cultural reflection. Focusing on the genre's rise as a preferred mode of storytelling in recent decades, the article traces its roots to a broader cultural and aesthetic shift emphasizing subjective narratives and the interplay of memory, identity, and imagination. Drawing from notable works by authors such as Pascal Quignard and Pierre Michon, biofiction is examined as a transformative space where the boundaries between biography, autobiography, and fiction dissolve. Through its reconfiguration of narrative structures, biofiction challenges the dichotomy between fiction and referential truth, creating hybrid texts that engage readers in reflective and empathetic encounters. The article discusses key characteristics of biofiction, including its reliance on fragmented storytelling, the manipulation of historical and fictional discourse, and its potential as a medium for emotional and intellectual engagement. Ultimately, biofiction is positioned as a vital literary form that responds to modernity's fragmented identity and reclaims the narrative power of individual lives, underscoring the enduring interplay between literature, memory, and the self. It appears as a key element in the literary landscape of postmodernity.