The Culture of War: Literature of the Siege of Paris 1870-1871 (Studies in Modern and Contemporary France)

"The Culture of War explores the unexpected flourishing of literature both high and low during the Siege of Paris at the end of the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871. When Prussian forces completely blockaded Paris, isolating the city from the outside world, Parisians turned to literature to resist the enemy, to fill the idle hours under siege, and to articulate their place in history. This cultural boom was a conscious effort on the part of literary institutions like newspapers, publishers, and theaters to ensure the viability of their industries during a period of political uncertainty. To do so, many publishers, editors, and directors sought legitimacy through populism, promoting literature written by anonymous and unknown authors or that spoke to populist ideas. A study of national tragedy on a local scale, The Culture of War goes beyond traditional narratives of communal or individual psychology, and studies institutional responses to financial and political instability, viewing literature as a product of economic and political forces."-- Provided by publisher The Culture of War explores the unexpected flourishing ofliterature both high and low during the Siege of Paris at the endof the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871. When Prussian forcescompletely blockaded Paris, isolating the city from the outsideworld, Parisians turned to literature to resist the enemy, to fillthe idle hours under siege, and to articulate their place inhistory. This cultural boom was a conscious effort on the part ofliterary institutions like newspapers, publishers, and theaters toensure the viability of their industries during a period ofpolitical uncertainty. To do so, many publishers, editors, anddirectors sought legitimacy through populism, promoting literaturewritten by anonymous and unknown authors or that spoke to populistideas. A study of national tragedy on a local scale, TheCulture of War goes beyond traditional narratives of communalor individual psychology, and studies institutional responses tofinancial and political instability, viewing literature as aproduct of economic and political forces Cover Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: On Stage 1. The Boulevards Lose their Theaters 2. Hugomania Part II: Off Presses 3. The Feuilleton at War 4. The Dubious Battle of Reichshoffen Part III: At Home 5. Letters to No One 6. Historians of the Present Part IV: In Print 7. De-Modernizing Publishing 8. To Make the Past Public Coda: The Siege and State Violence Bibliography Index During the Siege of Paris, literature was big business. A study of cultural production and consumption, 'The Culture of War' examines how Parisians fuelled the industries of literature even as the Prussian blockade isolated them from the outside world in the winter of 1870-1871