In I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman crafts a haunting dystopian tale centered around an unnamed protagonist and 39 other women. Imprisoned in an underground bunker, these women are cut off from men and the outside world. Through the protagonist’s perspective, Harpman unravels their story, highlighting their isolation and struggle.

As the youngest of the group, with no memories of life before captivity, the protagonist offers a unique lens through which the reader explores existence in this grim reality. Her lack of memories becomes her strength, shielding her from the despair that torments the older women, who mourn their lost freedoms and past lives. While the others are weighed down by haunting memories, the protagonist’s innocence and curiosity sustain her mental independence and keep her questioning the world inside and beyond the bunker.

Harpman delves into themes of mental independence, power, and identity through the protagonist’s journey. Her desire for exploration and understanding raises profound questions about human existence, reflecting the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression.

Who is Jacqueline Harpman?

Jacqueline Harpman was a Belgian author renowned for her psychological depth in writing. She authored several works and received multiple awards, including the prestigious Prix Médicis for Orlanda. Originally written in French, I Who Have Never Known Men was her first novel to be translated into English, bringing her unique storytelling to a wider audience.