Publishing Africa in French: Literary Institutions and Decolonization 1945-1967 (Contemporary French and Francophone Cultures LUP)

The history of post-war writing in French has tended to separate African literature from French metropolitan literary production. The same separation resonates in today's global French literary marketplace, still dominated by Parisian publishing houses and metropolitan literary kudos. This study historicises the aesthetic and socio-economic implications of that evident asymmetry. Archival research combines with literary analysis to explore the mediations that defined and legitimated notions of language, authorship and literary value during the decolonizing vingt glorieuses. Revealing known and less-known connections between institutions such as Présence Africaine, Editions du Seuil, Gallimard and the Association des écrivains de la mer et de l'outre-mer, the author argues that a contested and variegated African literary presence was widely dispersed across the metropolitan publishing scene in this period. These material aspects of book production and distribution are inextricably entangled with ongoing debates over the representation of Africa in words. Authors whose work is considered in detail include Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe and Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa in French uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to contribute fresh insights and new material to current concerns in French Studies, African Studies, the sociology of literature, and book history. It Has Become Commonplace To Note That The Global French Literary Marketplace Is Dominated By Parisian Publishing Houses And Metropolitan Kudos. This Study Probes The Aesthetic And Political Implications Of That Assertion By Revisiting The History Of African Literature In Post-war France. Extensive Archival Research Is Combined With Literary Analysis To Investigate The Destabilizing Impact Of Decolonization On Legitimate Notions Of Language, Authorship And Literary Value. Mapping Connections Between Institutions Such As Pršence Africaine, Ditions Du Seuil, Gallimard And The Association Des črivains De La Mer Et De Loutre-mer, The Author Argues That A Contested And Variegated African Literary Presence Actively Shaped The Metropolitan Publishing Scene During This Period Of Transition. In Turn, The Material Aspects Of Book Production And Distribution Are Shown To Be Inextricably Entangled With Ongoing Debates Over The Representation Of Africa In Words. Authors Whose Work Is Considered In Detail Include Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe And Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa In French Uses An Innovative Interdisciplinary Methodology To Contribute Fresh Insights To Current Concerns In French Studies, African Studies, And Postcolonial Book History. Introduction -- Institutions -- 1 Anthologizing The Union Franȧise -- 2 Book-publishing At Pršence Africaine -- 3 Literary Prize Culture -- Mediations -- 4 Authenticity And Authorship -- 5 Editorial Craft And Literary Resistance -- 6 Translating Africa In The French Republic Of Letters -- Conclusion -- Appendices -- Notes -- Works Cited -- Index. Ruth Bush. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 258-287) And Index. The history of post-war writing in French has tended to separate African literature from French metropolitan literary production. The same separation resonates in today's global French literary marketplace, still dominated by Parisian publishing houses and metropolitan literary kudos. This study historicises the aesthetic and socio-economic implications of that evident asymmetry. Archival research combines with literary analysis to explore the mediations that defined and legitimated notions of language, authorship and literary value during the decolonizing vingt glorieuses. Revealing known and less-known connections between institutions such as Présence Africaine, Editions du Seuil, Gallimard and the Association des écrivains de la mer et de l'outre-mer, the author argues that a contested and variegated African literary presence was widely dispersed across the metropolitan publishing scene in this period. These material aspects of book production and distribution are inextricably entangled with ongoing debates over the representation of Africa in words. Authors whose work is considered in detail include Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe and Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa in French uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to contribute fresh insights and new material to current concerns in French Studies, African Studies, the sociology of literature, and book history. The history of post-war writing in French has tended to separate African literature from French metropolitan literary production. The same separation resonates in today's global French literary marketplace, still dominated by Parisian publishing houses and metropolitan literary kudos. This study historicises the aesthetic and socio-economic implications of that evident asymmetry. Archival research combines with literary analysis to explore the mediations that defined and legitimated notions of language, authorship and literary value during the decolonizing vingt glorieuses. Revealing known and less-known connections between institutions such as Presence Africaine, Editions du Seuil, Gallimard and the Association des ecrivains de la mer et de l'outre-mer, the author argues that a contested and variegated African literary presence was widely dispersed across the metropolitan publishing scene in this period. These material aspects of book production and distribution are inextricably entangled with ongoing debates over the representation of Africa in words. Authors whose work is considered in detail include Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe and Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa in French uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to contribute fresh insights and new material to current concerns in French Studies, African Studies, the sociology of literature, and book history Publishing Africa in French was the winner of the African Literature Association's First Book Award in 2018.It has become commonplace to note that the global French literary marketplace is dominated by Parisian publishing houses and metropolitan kudos. This study probes the aesthetic and political implications of that assertion by revisiting the history of African literature in post-war France. Extensive archival research is combined with literary analysis to investigate the destabilizing impact of decolonization on legitimate notions of language, authorship and literary value. Mapping connections between institutions such as Présence Africaine, Éditions du Seuil, Gallimard and the Association des écrivains de la mer et de l'outre-mer, the author argues that a contested and variegated African literary presence actively shaped the metropolitan publishing scene during this period of transition. In turn, the material aspects of book production and distribution are shown to be inextricably entangled with ongoing debates over the representation of Africa in words. Authors whose work is considered in detail include Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe and Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa in French uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to contribute fresh insights to current concerns in French studies, African studies, and postcolonial book history. It has become commonplace to note that the global French literary marketplace is dominated by Parisian publishing houses and metropolitan kudos. This study probes the aesthetic and political implications of that assertion by revisiting the history of African literature in post-war France. Extensive archival research is combined with literary analysis to investigate the destabilizing impact of decolonization on legitimate notions of language, authorship and literary value. Mapping connections between institutions such as Présence Africaine, Éditions du Seuil, Gallimard and the Association des écrivains de la mer et de l'outre-mer, the author argues that a contested and variegated African literary presence actively shaped the metropolitan publishing scene during this period of transition. In turn, the material aspects of book production and distribution are shown to be inextricably entangled with ongoing debates over the representation of Africa in words. Authors whose work is considered in detail includé Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe and Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa in French uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to contribute fresh insights to current concerns in French studies, African studies, and postcolonial book history. It has become commonplace to note that the global French literary marketplace is dominated by Parisian publishing houses and metropolitan kudos. This study probes the aesthetic and political implications of that assertion by revisiting the history of African literature in post-war France. Extensive archival research is combined with literary analysis to investigate the destabilizing impact of decolonization on legitimate notions of language, authorship and literary value. Mapping connections between institutions such as Présence Africaine, Editions du Seuil, Gallimard and the Association des écrivains de la mer et de l'outre-mer, the author argues that a contested and variegated African literary presence actively shaped the metropolitan publishing scene during this period of transition. In turn, the material aspects of book production and distribution are shown to be inextricably entangled with ongoing debates over the representation of Africa in words. Authors whose work is considered in detail include Abdoulaye Sadji, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Christine Garnier, Malick Fall, Chinua Achebe and Peter Abrahams. Publishing Africa in French uses an innovative interdisciplinary methodology to contribute fresh insights to current concerns in French studies, African studies, and postcolonial book history Cover 1 Contents 5 Figures 6 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 11 Institutions 37 1. Anthologizing the Union française 39 2. Book-publishing at Présence Africaine 66 3. Literary prize culture 102 Mediations 125 4. Authenticity and authorship 127 5. Editorial craft and literary resistance 157 6. Translating Africa in the French republic of letters 191 Conclusion 225 Appendices 232 Notes 244 Works cited 268 Index 298 'Publishing Africa in French' provides a critical analysis of the global dynamics and cultural and publishing history of French and African literature. It focuses on French readership and the French literary-political sphere, and engages with issues of authorial authenticity, literary value, and author autonomy An exploration of African literary production in France and its socio-economic implications