Great War Propaganda in Popular Literature in France
Cecile Nielly
Abstract
The aim of this article is to study propaganda through a particular approach: popular literature. Focusing on France, this article will try to answer the following questions: What role did popular literature actually play in the diffusion of propaganda? What was the publishers’ and the authors’ position on propaganda? What was their relationship with the readership? To try to find answers to these questions, we will study theories about mass popular culture and war-time propaganda. We will apply these theories to the particular market of the press. One aspect of these periodical publications will be looked at with special attention in this article: the roman-feuilleton, or serial novels. This serialised literature developed in earnest during the 19th century, especially in France. The study will look for recurrent themes in war-time novels that can be attributed to propaganda. We will also draw a comparison with the situation in Great Britain during the same period.
Cecile Nielly
Abstract
The aim of this article is to study propaganda through a particular approach: popular literature. Focusing on France, this article will try to answer the following questions: What role did popular literature actually play in the diffusion of propaganda? What was the publishers’ and the authors’ position on propaganda? What was their relationship with the readership? To try to find answers to these questions, we will study theories about mass popular culture and war-time propaganda. We will apply these theories to the particular market of the press. One aspect of these periodical publications will be looked at with special attention in this article: the roman-feuilleton, or serial novels. This serialised literature developed in earnest during the 19th century, especially in France. The study will look for recurrent themes in war-time novels that can be attributed to propaganda. We will also draw a comparison with the situation in Great Britain during the same period.