French Novel “Possédés” Examines Childhood Trauma and Religious Upbringing

The new French novel **Possédés : les traces indélébiles de l’enfance** tells the autobiographical story of a woman named Laetitia who grows up in a bourgeois, devout Catholic family in Cannes. The narrative recounts her birth on an October morning, the early imposition of a religious identity, and the oppressive behavior of her father and husband that leads her to rebel against the strict Christian upbringing. Through vivid recollections—such as the secret drinking of holy water from a plastic bottle shaped like the Virgin—the book explores how family violence, both psychological and physical, shapes Laetitia’s search for freedom and a personal sense of sanctity.

The work offers a stark portrait of the clash between inherited faith and the desire for self‑definition, positioning Laetitia’s struggle as a broader commentary on the constraints of authoritarian family structures and the lingering impact of childhood trauma.