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Since 2002, the magazine "Siècle 21" offers files on world literatures. RFI

Since 2002, the biannual magazine "Siècle 21" addresses the major issues of society and world literatures through the eyes of authors from all countries and all eras. In his last issue, which comes out in September, the French-speaking writers of Belgium are honored.

Hyper-connection, individualism, loss of meaning ... Is there still a future perspective in our post-modern societies? Is there still a long-term project? Since its creation in 2002, it is this "emptiness" characterizing our societies that preoccupies the magazine "Siècle 21".

Hence his ambition: to give the floor to " those who always have the last word ", namely writers, witnesses of their times, bearers of a speech of truth about men.

An opening into the world

" Whether they are Americans or South Africans, we have something real about the society where these people have existed, " says Jean Guiloineau, director of the publication. " What is interesting is when the author testifies contradictions, weaknesses or magnitudes of his society ".

"Century 21", it is at the same time chronicles, illustrations of an artist, and three files: one devoted to a country or a city, another to a contemporary French writer, and one last on a precise subject ( like animals, in the last issue).

We are too fixed on dominant literatures.

Jean Guiloineau

Writer, translator, director of the publication of "Century 21"

29/07/2019 - by David Pauget Listen

In the last (summer 2019), the file of foreign literature is devoted to the French-speaking writers of Belgium. " It's not a text catalog, it's a choice. I had carte blanche for this file. I did not want to take the best known writers to discover others, "says Yves Namur *, who led this issue.

What about the term "belgitude"? Is there an identity peculiar to the writers of French-speaking Belgium? So many questions that Yves Namur leaves unanswered, leaving readers to take an idea when reading this collection of more than thirty unpublished texts. " One thing is obvious: French-speaking Belgium is a great source of self-deprecation, surrealism, fantasy, " he notes. " It is also, and par excellence, the country of poets and irregulars of language ".

Reflection and emotion

With a circulation of about 400 copies, "Century 21" is part of the tradition of long-term journals, of reflection on the world and of the emotion aroused by writings from all countries, from all eras. Literature Tunisian, Mexican, Indian, ... as many examples of texts in the spotlight on the 17 years of existence of the magazine.

" If you're interested in your time, current affairs and social issues, you can read books on philosophy, sociology, good journals ... but one of the possible ways is to read good writers. Good books are mirrors of their time, "says Jérôme Vérain, member of the editorial board. Hence the subtitle of the journal, "Literature & Society".

The cover of the last issue (summer 2009) of "Century 21". The Bear Pit

"Century 21" is also a place of debate, where various visions of the world, sometimes antagonistic, are mixed by the voices of writers from all horizons. And this is the reason for its success, according to Jérôme Vérain: " In a book, you have the point of view of the author. In magazines, you have crossed views. That's why they manage to survive, sometimes miraculously, because they are contradictory and therefore democratic places of expression . "

Financial difficulties

"Century 21" is also a magazine with uncertain future, which is currently experiencing significant financial difficulties. Its resources come from both subscribers (about a hundred subscriptions) and grants.

The magazine thus benefits from a grant from the National Book Center (which depends on the Ministry of Culture), about 2,500 euros. It also had a subsidy from the Ile-de-France region (about 1,500 euros per year), which was cut by the new team elected following the regional elections in 2015.

" It was not extraordinary money, it allowed us to pay the printer, the main financial burden, and also the fees for subscribers. These are policies that I do not understand very well, which put us in danger, "laments Jean Guiloineau.

The magazine is available in bookstores and has a website, allowing you to read and order back issues. The next, scheduled for November, will be devoted to Colombian literature and will have a file on the writer Annie Ernaux.

* Doctor, publisher, member of the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium and the Mallarmé Academy