‘I Who Have Never Known Men’ presents a compelling story before you even crack the spine. The novel by French psychoanalyst Jacqueline Harpman was virtually unknown until it exploded on TikTok – but don’t scrunch up your nose just yet. In my view, it’s astonishing that this hasn’t been considered a modern classic since its publication. It follows the story of an unnamed child who has lived in a bunker with 39 women for as long as she can remember. None of them know why they’re there, and all the women have given up speculating. It’s through the narrator’s sheer curiosity that they learn about their situation and manage to escape. This is speculative fiction at its best: a moving portrayal of what it means to be human. Now that it’s achieved its rightful place on the bestseller lists, let’s hope it stays there for years to come. MG

Vintage