From remembering to writing: the case of Francesca Tranchida
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the writings of Francesca Tranchida, a truly unclassifiable self-taught author who published two collections of poetry and her autobiography at the age of 90. She serves as a representative of the many anonymous Italian women whose experiences have been overlooked in academic discourse on the history of the Italian presence in Tunisia.
Having emigrated to the cosmopolitan environment of Tunisia during the Protectorate, where she lived for over thirty years, Tranchida felt a compelling need in her later years to share her story and leave a lasting legacy for her family and friends. In her autobiography, she recounts her long life in a distinctive language, adhering to a chronological structure. However, questions arise regarding the reliability of her memory; one wonders if she has embellished, invented certain memories, or overlooked others. Furthermore, her narrative does not shy away from the significant historical events of the 20th century that shaped her experiences. This raises the question of how she weaves connections between self-writing and the writing of history.
The universal themes that emerge from her autobiography reveal a deep connection to Sicily. Emigration has caused a lasting wound that Tranchida seeks to heal through an idealized nostalgia, which sometimes leads to a mythologized view of her homeland. We will explore the tension between this illusion and the potential for a return to the Sicilian reality. In Tunisia, Tranchida also navigates her relationships with various groups: Sicilians, Italians, and other communities. This dynamic highlights the complexity of her personal identity and her engagement with otherness in an immigrant context, oscillating between indifference, antagonism, and empathy.
Thus, the writings of Francesca Tranchida not only provide a unique testimony but also valuable insights into the experiences of Italian women immigrants in Tunisia, contributing to the collective memory of a group often marginalized in historical narratives.
Keywords: Sicily, Tunisia, Woman, Autobiography, Otherness
