The tenth edition of the Rendez-vous littéraires rue Cambon [Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon] was held at the Metrograph Theater, in New York City. CHANEL and Charlotte Casiraghi, ambassador and spokesperson for the House, invited writer and essayist Siri Hustvedt, author of multiple novels and prestigious award winnings essays, along with novelist, poet and photographer Rachel Eliza Griffiths.
Animated by author and critic Erica Wagner, this encounter dedicated to Siri Hustvedt evokes the powers of literature, its capacity to open social outlets and the relationship between the author and the reader. Together, they also discuss the nature of time and the mind-body connection Siri Hustvedt questions in her work.
A musical performance by singer-songwriter Sophie Auster, accompanied by pianist Marie Davy, punctuated the conversation.
(00:00) : Opening by Charlotte Casiraghi
(03:09) : Introduction by Erica Wagner
(07:40) : The origin of Siri Hustvedt’s curiosity
(09:19) : Charlotte Casiraghi and Rachel Eliza Griffiths’ thoughts on Siri Hustvedt’s body of work
(12:52) : About “Memories of the Future”
(14:28) : Reading an extract of “Memories of the Future” by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
(16:43) : Writing in the context of “Me Too”
(20:31) : The power of literature
(23:07) : Siri Hustvedt and Rachel Eliza Griffiths on their readers and time
(27:22) : About “The Shaking Woman or A History of My Nerves”
(28:13) : Reading an extract of “The Shaking Woman or A History of My Nerves” by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
(32:07) : Siri Hustvedt on “The Shaking Woman or A History of My Nerves” and its writing process
(35:16) : On the mind-body connection
(44:31) : Reading an extract of “Mothers, Fathers and Others” by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
(48:52) : About misogyny, the reproductive body and hope
(54:19) : On the figure of the mother
(59:07) : Musical performance by Sophie Auster, accompanied by Marie Dav
(1:03:27) : Sophie Auster on her song “Hey, Girlfriend”
(1:04:30) : On female friendship
(1:05:34) : Reading an extract of “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power”, Audre Lorde by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
(01:06:22) : On “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power”, Audre Lorde
(01:08:16) : New York according to Siri Hustvedt
(01:10:25) : Siri Hustvedt’s advice to young artists
(01:12:15) : On Siri Hustvedt’s style
Siri Hustvedt, The Blindfold, © Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton Limited, 2010.
THE BLINDFOLD, Copyright © 1992 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Creative Artists Agency
Siri Hustvedt, What I Loved, © Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton Limited, 2003.
WHAT I LOVED by Siri Hustvedt Copyright © 2003 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Siri Hustvedt and Creative Artists Agency
Siri Hustvedt, What I Loved, © Picador US, 2003. All Rights Reserved.
Siri Hustvedt, The Blazing World, © Simon & Schuster, 2014.
THE BLAZING WORLD, Copyright © 2014 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Creative Artists Agency
Siri Hustvedt, Memories of the Future, © Simon & Schuster, 2019.
MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE, Copyright © 2019 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Creative Artists Agency
Siri Hustvedt, A Woman Looking at Men Looking at Women: Essays on Art, Sex, and the Mind, © Simon & Schuster, 2017.
A WOMAN LOOKING AT MEN LOOKING AT WOMEN by Siri Hustvedt Copyright © 2016 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Siri Hustvedt and Creative Artists Agency
Siri Hustvedt, Mothers, Fathers, and Others, © Simon & Schuster, 2022.
MOTHERS, FATHERS, and OTHERS, Copyright © 2021 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Creative Artists Agency
Siri Hustvedt, The Shaking Woman or A History of My Nerves, Copyright © 2009 by Siri Hustvedt.
THE SHAKING WOMAN or A HISTORY OF MY NERVES, Copyright © 2009 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Creative Artists Agency
© Cornell University. Weill Cornell Medicine.
© The Gabarron Foundation.
© Fundacion Princesa de Asturias.
Rachel Eliza Griffiths, PROMISE, © Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Random House, 2023.
Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Seeing the Body, © W.W. Norton Company, 2020.
© Hurston/Wright Foundation.
© Paterson Poetry Prize.
© NAACP Image Award.
© Cave Canem Foundation Inc.
© Kimbilio.
© Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown.
© Yaddo.
© The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. Used under license.
© The New Yorker.
© Tin House.
© The Washington Post. All rights reserved.
© Royal Crown Cola, All rights reserved.
Siri Hustvedt, The Delusions of Certainty, © Simon & Schuster, 2017.
THE DELUSIONS OF CERTAINTY by Siri Hustvedt Copyright © 2017 by Siri Hustvedt Reprinted by permission of Siri Hustvedt and Creative Artists Agency.
© LITHUB.
Rachel Eliza Griffiths in Cover reveal: See the cover for Rachel Eliza Griffiths’s Promise, © LITHUB, February 23, 2023.
Toni Morrison, Beloved, Penguin, 2004.
Sophie Auster – “Hey, Girlfriend” © Sophie Auster, Nick Block, 2022.
Excerpted from: Uses of the Erotic by Audre Lorde/ SISTER OUTSIDER – Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde, published by Crossing Press/Penguin RandomHouse Inc. New York, © 1984,2007 by Audre Lorde. Used by permission of the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency.