Vernon Subutex et le roman "balzacien"

This article analyses the widely-made critical assumption that Vernon Subutex, Despentes's latest novel, sits within the tradition of the Balzacian novel. It suggests that Despentes's work should indeed be considered as a prime example of the resurgence of a "Balzacian" conception of the novel in France today. Vernon Subutex's narrative construction, its descriptive scope, its utopian undertones, and the significant role played by marginal or liminal characters hark back to Balzac and the Human Comedy. The article also tries to explain why a "Balzacian" reading of Despentes's work is crucial in order to unveil some of its underlying ideological tenets.