The Auld Alliance in action: French writers in Edinburgh
Scotland is a country which loves France and which France loves just as much. The Auld Alliance, as its name suggests, is one of, if not the single oldest friendly partnerships that France has entertained in its history with other countries. The alliance was renewed despite occasional spats from the late 14th century all the way into the 16th century: in comparison, the Entente Cordiale is still “only” 112 years old as of today. From 1418 to 1830, the Garde Ecossaise (“Scottish Guard”) was one of the prestigious military units serving as personal bodyguard to the French king. Even after the 1707 Act of Union, Scottish merchants could trade more or less freely with France while their English counterparts faced all kinds of restrictions and impediments. And up until 1903, Frenchmen and Scots each had the right to claim citizenship from the other country, although this provision wasn't actually put into use.
'The oldest alliance in the world', claimed Charles de Gaulle...
France and Scotland thus have a long history of friendship. In the past, this bond was in large part built on mutual hatred of the English, a people both countries loved hating. Nowadays, these close ties exist for much more positive reasons (like the EU: 62% of Scots voted Remain!), with many different peaceful forms of cooperation.
They say actions speak louder than words, and so the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which starts this Saturday, should convince doubters that Scotland is an open-minded and friendly country. During it you’ll also be able to see the (much-vaunted) Franco-Scottish bond at work as there will be several French guests! Most of them will be familiar to you if you’ve been regularly reading this blog, and they’re people the Book Office will be delighted to see at Edinburgh.
The graphic artist and illustrator Barroux, who will also be a guest for the South Ken Kids Festival in November, has an event planned for the first evening of the festival (13th of August) which you won’t want to miss. Joined by his translator Sarah Ardizzone, Barroux will be presenting for the first time his acclaimed work Alpha, this time staged as a “son-et-lumière dramatic realisation”. Adrien Bosc, whose first novel Constellation was an instant success, will be invited to talk with Miriam Moss about what lies at the heart of their most recent books: commercial flights hijacked by fate.
On Sunday, parents and children will get to see how he manages to create the wonderful drawings that made Where’s the Elephant such a success - although this time, the hide-and-seek takes place in the ocean and it’s a starfish you’ll have to find! After this, you can still make it for Faïza Guène and Sarah Ardizzone’s discussion of Guène’s soon-to-be-published book Men Don’t Cry. This will be a talk that is sure to feature her trademark incisiveness and bittersweet humour, which she wields with such gusto when portraying France’s Franco-Algerian communities in the Parisian suburbs.
On Monday (15th) morning, Barroux joins fellow illustrators Chris Haughton and Emer Stamp to share some insights into their respective creative and artistic processes. Bessora, who wrote the story for Alpha, will make her Edinburgh debut on Wednesday: along with Sarah Aridzzone and Rowena Seabrook, she will be using her book as a springboard for a discussion of migration and the problematic discourses that surround it. You will also be able to see Bessora again on the next day, for a conversation with Karrie Fransman and Bidisha on the usage of graphic novels to engage with issues like migration.
French guests will also be present for the closing of the festival. Jean-Christophe Rufin (diplomat, novelist, co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières, and so many other things) will be in Edinburgh on the 27th to talk about voyages of self-discovery with fellow traveller Bee Rowlat. And on the last day, the renowned Moroccan author Tahar Ben Jelloun, who recently published the poignant About My Mother, will be joined on stage by Irenosen Okojie.
The French Institute in Edinburgh will also be organising a series of Literary Cafés, each with one of the French guests we’ve mentioned so far. These are much less formal affairs than the festival events and provide great opportunities for organic conversations with erudite writers; so do check them out, especially since they’re free (although prior bookings are very important)!
Saturday 13: Adrien Bosc, on narrative non-fiction
Sunday 28: Tahar Ben Jelloun
