Be of the Book

The Be of the Book is a literary Festival taking place with Metz every year since 1987, during three days, on the Gardens of the Esplanade.

Authors installed with stands dedicate and sell their books (via the local booksellers). Conferences are organized, as well as contests and various animations.

The current president of the Summer of the Book is Chantal of Touanne.

History

It has been many years that in Metz, the literary demonstrations and the writers have established among. With regard to the association of the Book in Metz, its origins go back to the Days of the Book organized for one twenty years period by the Arts center of Metz Queuleu. Indeed, as of the creation of this one, at the end of 1965, the persons in charge, who had made library the showpiece of the Center, estimated that it was necessary to consolidate the cultural character of this association by important demonstrations. They were the “Days of the Book”, organized with ten recoveries between 1966 and 1986. For each demonstration a main theme was chosen by the persons in charge of the center who invited, in agreement with the editors, of the writers and draftsmen who had illustrated this topic. More than one thousand of people were pressed with each one of these ten demonstrations

Thus, during two or three days, between five and fifteen authors were joined together for meetings comprising dedications, conferences, debates, roundtables…

Each time, and according to a bearing which the interested parties had accepted, a large bookseller of Metz ensured the provisioning of the Center and the sale the public of the corresponding works.

association the Book in Metz

However, at the beginning of 1987, it appeared that the formula of the Days of the Book was not completely any more adapted to new times. The considerable development of the local mediums, regional and national, the importance of the corresponding means of financing did not allow any more one implementation appropriate to an important but limited audience. The Days of the Book had touched an important district of a big city, it was now necessary to be addressed to the city, if possible in its heart even.

This design was at the base of creation, in 1987 of association “the Book in Metz” and of its annual demonstration “the Summer of the Book”. At the end of the year, the current partners of the Book in Metz met to study a creation project of association to ensure the operation and the development of these literary meetings which took place in Metz Queleu. Under the direction of president Michel HOCQUARD, Marguerite PUHL-DEMANGE and Robert GUERARD, both vice-presidents, young association knew to be based on the strong foundations of the Days of the Book so that the demonstration culturally irrigates the population on a regional and national level.

founders of the Book in Metz

The Town of Metz The Department of the Moselle The Lorraine Republican The Savings bank of Lorraine Northern The Arts center of Metz Queuleu Bookstores: Denis, Even, Géronimo, the Courtyard

The Summer of the Book today

President since 1996, Chantal of Touanne took the queens of the “Book in Metz” with the will to continue the work of her predecessors and to keep the heart of the living room.

However, so that the Summer of the book respects as well waitings and the motivations of the readers as authors and editors, the demonstration knew to evolve/move to adapt.

Since 2003, the capital moved Place of Weapons towards accessible Jardins of Esplande. The living room is held during three days, under a capital of more than 1500 m2 and gathers more than 300 authors. Saturdays and Sunday are the days which attract the most world: 45 to 50.000 people, which makes Summer of the Book a cultural and literary event appreciated and recognized on the national plan. Friday is devoted to many workshops intended for the children in order to encourage them with the reading, to develop their critical spirit and to make perdurer the literary passion.

the philosophy of the Summer of the Book

The Summer of the Book first of all aims at developing the taste of reading in the young people and the adults of the area and diffusing the reading to reach knowledge and enrichment in the respect of literary quality.

It is also the occasion to make known the reading like a means of cultivating itself and also like a moment of relaxation and pleasure. Lastly, the Summer of the Book consolidates the place of Metz, the Moselle and Lorraine to the prize list of the areas of high culture.

The Summer of the Book gives certainly of the prices, three in fact but especially, it irrigates a city, an agglomeration, a department and an important part of the area, of an intense cultural current to the profit of all the population: readers of the press, customers of the libraries, high-school pupils, schoolboys, schoolboys… Concentrate over one week, this current lasts in fact much more, from its presentation and its repercussions. The names of the prizes winner of the various prices are communicated as from April, that is to say more than one month before the demonstration.

It knew, little by little, to associate in the same action, for satisfied purposes, people and organizations which, a priori, were not intended to cooperate: writer, editors, booksellers, communities, administration, religious organizations, banking organizations all… became partners and hold in conviction their place in an active unit because coherent. It best is undoubtedly guaranteed there future for a demonstration which knew on the matter to find its row among most important of France.

Edition 2007

Exposures

Exposure “Of a Codex Mexica (1507) to the ways of the baroque in Latin America” Prepared by the Convent - International Center of the Ways of the Baroque The exposure presents the important bonds between Baroque art and religion in America of the conquistadores: photographs of Shoeing Ferranti, presentation of the “Codex Martinez there Compañon” made up of songs and dances of the New-World, discovered landscapes and buildings of Latin America.

Law courts - Room of Bases

Prizes winner

PRICE MARGUERITE PUHL-DEMANGE Sponsored by Gaz de France Didier the SINNER “motionless men”, JC Lattès In France of the Twenties, five friends find themselves in a deserted castle. Together, they will try to be rebuilt, but in their heart, the war lasts for ever. Didier the SINNER signs a large fresco of the inter-war period, romantic, romantic and inspired.

PRICE “P.L.U.M.E” Sponsored by the Ministry for the Luxembourg Culture, the University Paul Verlaine of Metz and the Summer of the Book French prize winner: Florent ZEPHIR “twelve work of Mr Tartempion”

PRICE “MARIANNE” Sponsored by the Departmental Room of the Notaries of the Moselle Judith PERRIGNON “It was my brother”, the Iconoclast

PRICE YOUTH BE OF THE BOOK Sponsored by the General advice of the Moselle. Prize winner 9/12 years: Irene COHEN-JANCA “the mine with bonbecs”, Rouergue Prize winner 13/15 years: Erik the MAN “Phænomen”, Gallimard youth

PRICE “YOU IN ALL LETTERS DECLARE” Price given to the most beautiful love letter. In partnership with the Post office. Sunday, June 10, 10:00

PRICE OF the 20th BIRTHDAY Max MONNEHAY “Corpus Christine”, Albin Michel

Not-exhaustive list authors come at the Summer from the Book

External bonds

  • Official site
  • Blog of the Summer of the Book

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