Spring of poets: why the choice of Sylvain Tesson as godfather poses a problem

While the Spring of Poets prepares to open its doors from 9 to 25 March for its 25th edition, the choice of its sponsor in the person of Sylvain Tesson scandalises part of the French cultural panorama. In an article published on Publicationmore than 1,200 French cultural actors oppose this choiceincluding the writers Baptiste Beaulieu, Chloé Delaume and the poets Camille Bloomfield.

An important figure of “literary extreme right”

The column, published on Thursday 18 January, brings together voices from different horizons of the French cultural scene. “We poets, publishers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, actresses and actors of the French cultural scene, speak out against the appointment of Sylvain Tesson and ask the Spring of Poets to renounce him”they explain.

The signatories warn of the implications of such an appointment. We recall in particular that the author of “On the Black Paths” (2016) and “The Snow Panther” (2019) preceded “ a reference work of the far right, Camp des saints, by Jean Raspail “, and was presented as an important figure of the “literary extreme right” by journalist François Krug.

According to the approximately one thousand signatories, this nomination contributes to “trivialization and normalization of the far right in the political, cultural and society-wide spheres”.

Remember that this appointment happens in context “of Emmanuel Macron’s second term”whose “The political project is closer than ever to the far right”as illustrated in particular by immigration law.

They also believe that this trivialization will against the very essence of the Spring of Poetsan event created for counter preconceived ideas and highlight the vitality of poetry…

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