CIXOUS, IRIGARAY, KRISTEVA THE JOUISSANCE OF FRENCH FEMINISM This book is a poetic study of three French feminists, Luce Irigaray, Julia Kristeva and H l ne Cixous, the 'holy trinity' of French feminism. Kelly Ives writes: 'I hope to convey some the inspiration and excitement that their work instils. For these three feminists/ philosophers/ speakers/ poets are extraordinarily enriching. Their writings are not dull, nor yet are they limited to having one or two things to say. Rather, they say a lot, about a lot. Sometimes they write things that are outrageous, at other times they are incredibly, searingly poignant. They annoy many feminists - their insistence on the body and biology, for instance, aggravates some theorists.' EXTRACT FROM THE INTRODUCTION H l ne Cixous, Luce Irigaray and Julia Kristeva all have different modes of writing. There are times when they are writing in the sober, tones of a cultural critic, philosopher or psychoanalyst. They have strident feminist voices