Vive la France!
Happy Bastille Day, mes amis! It’s been a sad July for French letters, as earlier this month, legendary poet Yves Bonnefoy(opens in a new tab) died at the age of 93. Bonnefoy, who won the Goncourt prize for poetry in 1987, was part of a generation of writers that included the world-renowned writers Pierre Chappuis (Noon Fanfare and Fatality of Water) and Jacques Réda, both of whom you can read online in our Two Lines journal archives.
If you’re looking for even more French literature to gorge yourself on, we’ve got you covered. Let poet Claire Malroux lead you down into the grottoes, or else float into the clouds with Vénus Khoury-Ghata in poems translated by the award-winning poet Marilyn Hacker. Then sneak off to Switzerland for a rendezvous with Swiss poet Vahé Godel and hop over to Quebec to read Chilean-born Marilú Mallet’s story about refugees, translated by J.T. Townley.
If you’re looking for something you can bring to the beach, we’re selling our three French titles for 50% OFF this month! That’s TWO books by the incredible Marie NDiaye AND Jonathan Littell‘s The Fata Morgana Books in what we’re calling the “French Riviera Set.” You can buy all three books for $20 here(opens in a new tab)!
Don’t forget to take a moment to reflect on days gone by with Nobel Prize winner Patrick Modiano. We’ve got audio from our salon with one of Modiano‘s translators, Chris Clarke. Among other things, Clarke touches on Guy Debord, French grammar, and the streets of Paris.
If you’re in the Bay Area this month, escape into the world of French cinema at the Berkeley Pacific Film Archive(opens in a new tab). They’ll be showing films by François Truffaut this month, including Day for Night, Jules and Jim, and Shoot the Piano Player.
Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center is screening films(opens in a new tab) by young French filmmakers all month. Be young! Be French!
If you’re in sweltering New York tonight, head to Brooklyn’s Community Bookstore for a celebratory French Poetry Party(opens in a new tab)!
Sarah Coolidge (they/she) is a queer editor and musician based in Oakland. They have worked at the Center for over a decade, serving as editor of the Two Lines journal before launching the Calico Series in 2020. They’ve had the honor of working with countless translators they admire and have edited work by Mariana Enriquez, Iman Mersal, Pirkko Saisio, Dorothy Tse, Wilson Bueno, and Elena Garro, among others.
