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Each year since 1989, France has celebrated Lire en fete, a literary festival initiated by then Minister of Culture Jack Lang. Like other national festivals created during the 1980s, such as La Fete de la musique and La Fete du cinema, Lire en fete provides entertainment, but also directly relates to government democratisation efforts. This article analyses the 2007 version of Lire en fete, focusing on primary documents such as the Dossier de presse and the official website, and suggests that the French government uses this festival to increase public engagement in French society and to encourage responsible citizenship, in part by fostering the development of a literate public sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks into the shared heritage of Ireland and France depicted by Samuel Beckett in his novel "Mercier Et Camier." Points of intersection in the two countries' religious, cultural and military histories; Establishment of Ireland as an independent European entity; Utilization of the motif of the war veteran.

Argues that Martin du Gard's novel "Jean Barois" not only presents a "portrait of an age" but that it also represents a "putting into practice" of the intellectual debates in turn-of-the-century France. Use of the protagonist to represent an entire generation of young intellectuals; Pivotal role of the Dreyfus Affair in French politics and culture; Portrayal of a representative crisis of faith of main character.