Travel in Twentieth-Century French and Francophone Cultures : The Persistence of Diversity

This book is one of the first studies of twentieth-century travel literature in French, tracking the form from the colonial past to the postcolonial present. Whereas most recent explorations of travel literature have addressed English-language material, Forsdick's study complements these by presenting a body of material that has previously attracted little attention, ranging from conventional travel writing to other cultural phenomena (such as the Colonial Exposition of 1931) in which changing attitudes to travel are apparent. Travel in Twentieth-Century French and Francophone Cultures explores the evolution of attitudes to cultural diversity, explaining how each generation seems simultaneously to foretell the collapse and reinvention of "elsewhere." It also follows the progressive renegotiation of understandings of travel (and travel literature) across the twentieth century, focusing in particular on the emergence of travel narratives from France's former colonies. The book suggests that an exclusive colonial understanding of travel as a practice defined along the lines of class, gender, and ethnicity has slowly been transformed so that travel has become an enabling figure--encapsulated in notions such as James Clifford's "traveling cultures"--central to analyses of contemporary global culture. Engaging initially with Victor Segalen's early twentieth-century reflection on travel and exoticism and Albert Kahn's "Archives de la Planète," Forsdick goes on to examine a series of interrelated texts and phenomena: early African travel narratives, inter-war ethnography, post-war accounts of Citroën 2CV journeys, the travel stories of immigrant workers, the work of Nicholas Bouvier and the Pour une littérature voyageuse movement, narratives of recent walking journeys, and contemporary Polynesian literature. In delineating a francophone space stretching far beyond metropolitan France itself, the book contributes to new understandings of French and Francophone Studies, and will also be of interest to those interested in issues of comparatism as well as colonial and postcolonial culture and identity. Travel In Twentieth-century French And Francophone Cultures Explores The Evolution Of Attitudes To Cultural Diversity, Explaining How Each Generation Seems To Foretell Simultaneously The Collapse And Reinvention Of 'elsewhere'. It Also Follows The Progressive Renegotiation Of Understandings Of Travel (and Travel Literature) Across The Twentieth Century, Focusing In Particular On The Emergence Of Travel Narratives From France's Former Colonies. The Book Suggests That An Exclusive Colonial Understanding Of Travel As A Practice Defined Along The Lines Of Class, Gender, And Ethnicity Has Slowly Been Transformed Throughout The Twentieth Century. It Concludes That Travel Has Become An Enabling Figure - Encapsulated In Notions Such As James Clifford's 'traveling Cultures' - Central To Analyses Of Contemporary Global Culture. Engaging Initially With Victor Segalen's Early Twentieth-century Reflection On Travel And Exoticism And Albert Kahn's Archives De La Planete, Forsdick Goes On To Examine A Series Of Interrelated Texts And Phenomena: Early African Travel Narratives, Inter-war Ethnography, Post-war Accounts Of Citroen 2cv Journeys, The Travel Stories Of Immigrant Workers, The Work Of Nicholas Bouvier And The Pour Une Litterature Voyageuse Movement, Narratives Of Recent Walking Journeys, And Contemporary Polynesian Literature. In Delineating A Francophone Space Stretching Far Beyond Metropolitan France Itself, The Book Contributes To New Understandings Of French And Francophone Studies, And Will Also Be Of Interest To Those Interested In Issues Of Comparatism As Well As Colonial And Postcolonial Culture And Identity.--book Jacket. Travelling Concepts: Postcolonial Approaches To Exoticism And Diversity -- Le Grand Danger Terrestre: Early Twentieth Century Exoticism And The Decline Of Diversity -- Sa(l)vaging Exoticism: New Approaches To 1930's Travel Literature In French -- Around The World In A Zcv: Post-war French Travel Writing And The Reordering Of Elsewhere -- Between Unity And Diversity Rubbish, The Mosaic, And The Fragments Of Travel Literature -- Journeying Now: New Directions In Contemporary Travel Literature In French -- From The Cultures Of Travel To Traveling Cultures. Charles Forsdick. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [223]-248) And Index. This book is one of the first studies of twentieth-century travel literature in French, tracking the form from the colonial past to the postcolonial present. Whereas most recent explorations of travel literature have addressed English-language material, Forsdick's study complements these by presenting a body of material that has previously attracted little attention, ranging from conventional travel writing to other cultural phenomena (such as the Colonial Exposition of 1931) in which changing attitudes to travel are apparent. Travel in Twentieth-Century French and Francophone Cultures explores the evolution of attitudes to cultural diversity, explaining how each generation seems simultaneously to foretell the collapse and reinvention of'elsewhere'. It also follows the progressive renegotiation of understandings of travel (and travel literature) across the twentieth century, focusing in particular on the emergence of travel narratives from France's former colonies. The book suggests that an exclusive colonial understanding of travel as a practice defined along the lines of class, gender, and ethnicity has slowly been transformed so that travel has become an enabling figure - encapsulated in notions such as James Clifford's'traveling cultures'- central to analyses of contemporary global culture. Engaging initially with Victor Segalen's early twentieth-century reflection on travel and exoticism and Albert Kahn's'Archives de la Planète', Forsdick goes on to examine a series of interrelated texts and phenomena: early African travel narratives, inter-war ethnography, post-war accounts of Citroën 2CV journeys, the travel stories of immigrant workers, the work of Nicholas Bouvier and the Pour une littérature voyageuse movement, narratives of recent walking journeys, and contemporary Polynesian literature. In delineating a francophone space stretching far beyond metropolitan France itself, the book contributes to new understandings of French and Francophone Studies, and will also be of interest to those interested in issues of comparatism as well as colonial and postcolonial culture and identity. This book is one of the first studies of twentieth-century travel literature in French, tracking the form from the colonial past to the postcolonial present. Whereas most recent explorations of travel literature have addressed English-language material, Forsdick's study complements these by presenting a body of material that has previously attracted little attention, ranging from conventional travel writing to other cultural phenomena (such as the Colonial Exposition of 1931) in which changing attitudes to travel are apparent. "Travel in Twentieth-Century French and Francophone Cultures" explores the evolution of attitudes to cultural diversity, explaining how each generation seems simultaneously to foretell the collapse and reinvention of 'elsewhere'. It also follows the progressive renegotiation of understandings of travel (and travel literature) across the twentieth century, focusing in particular on the emergence of travel narratives from France's former colonies.; The book suggests that an exclusive colonial understanding of travel as a practice defined along the lines of class, gender, and ethnicity has slowly been transformed so that travel has become an enabling figure - encapsulated in notions such as James Clifford's 'traveling cultures' - central to analyses of contemporary global culture. Engaging initially with Victor Segalen's early twentieth-century reflection on travel and exoticism and Albert Kahn's 'Archives de la Planete', Forsdick goes on to examine a series of interrelated texts and phenomena: early African travel narratives, inter-war ethnography, post-war accounts of Citroen 2CV journeys, the travel stories of immigrant workers, the work of Nicholas Bouvier and the Pour une litterature voyageuse movement, narratives of recent walking journeys, and contemporary Polynesian literature. In delineating a francophone space Drawing on a varied range of material - including early African travel narratives, post-war accounts of journeys in Citroen 2CVs, travel stories of immigrant workers, and contemporary Polynesian literature, this book offers one of the first studies of 20th-century French travel literature Offering a study of twentieth-century travel literature in French, this book addresses changing ideas of travel in the colonial and postcolonial periods, and explores the links between travel and notions of cultural diversity.