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French publisher suspends reprint of Céline's anti-Semitic texts | French publisher suspends reprint of Céline's anti-Semitic texts |
(35 minutes later) | |
One of France's main publishing houses has suspended plans to republish a collection of anti-Semitic writings by author Louis-Ferdinand Céline. | |
After a public outcry, Gallimard said the "conditions were not right" for the texts to be issued "dispassionately" | |
Céline is regarded as one of France's greatest 20th-century novelists, but his reputation was tarnished by his anti-Semitic writings. | |
Jewish campaigners said the essays incited racist and anti-Semitic hate. | Jewish campaigners said the essays incited racist and anti-Semitic hate. |
The vitriolic pamphlets were written between 1937 and 1941. He did not want them republished after the war. | The vitriolic pamphlets were written between 1937 and 1941. He did not want them republished after the war. |
Last month, Gallimard announced plans to republish a 1,000-page collection of the controversial texts, which are available on the internet and in an edition issued in Canada in 2012. | Last month, Gallimard announced plans to republish a 1,000-page collection of the controversial texts, which are available on the internet and in an edition issued in Canada in 2012. |
It said the intention was to put them "in their context as writings of great violence and marked by the anti-Semitic hatred of the author". | It said the intention was to put them "in their context as writings of great violence and marked by the anti-Semitic hatred of the author". |
But the plan sparked protests and a threat of legal action from French lawyer and Nazi-hunter Serge Klarsfeld. The founder of the group Sons and Daughters of Jewish Deportees from France called the reprint "irresponsible". | But the plan sparked protests and a threat of legal action from French lawyer and Nazi-hunter Serge Klarsfeld. The founder of the group Sons and Daughters of Jewish Deportees from France called the reprint "irresponsible". |
In a rare move, publisher Antoine Gallimard was summoned by the head of the French government's committee against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred, who reportedly urged the publication to have notes by a group of experts, including historians. Gallimard reportedly rejected it. | In a rare move, publisher Antoine Gallimard was summoned by the head of the French government's committee against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred, who reportedly urged the publication to have notes by a group of experts, including historians. Gallimard reportedly rejected it. |
In announcing the suspension of the project, Gallimard said he could not ensure "a proper job in terms of methodology and history". | In announcing the suspension of the project, Gallimard said he could not ensure "a proper job in terms of methodology and history". |
He added: "Céline's pamphlets belong to the most infamous chapter of French anti-Semitism. But to censure them prevents light being shed on their ideological roots and only attracts unhealthy curiosity." | |
Céline, who died in 1961, is regarded as a literary innovator and most famous for his 1930s novels Journey to the End of the Night and Death on Credit. | |
His pamphlets are not banned in France but have not been reissued since 1945. | |
Although the author, born Louis-Ferdinand Destouches, had said he did not want them to be republished, his widow, now 105, recently authorised a reprint. | Although the author, born Louis-Ferdinand Destouches, had said he did not want them to be republished, his widow, now 105, recently authorised a reprint. |
He fled to Denmark at the end of World War Two and was convicted in absentia by a French court for collaboration with the Germans. He served a one-year jail term in Denmark and returned to France years later. | He fled to Denmark at the end of World War Two and was convicted in absentia by a French court for collaboration with the Germans. He served a one-year jail term in Denmark and returned to France years later. |
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