Virginie Girod SEASON 2022 - 202305h00, March 30, 2023
Alexandra David-Néel was the first Westerner to pass through the gates of the Forbidden City of Lhasa in Tibet. After a youth dreaming of independence and freedom, associating with intellectuals and discovering Asia and Orientalism, Alexandra David-Néel is finally ready to realize one of her dreams: to explore Tibet. She set out to discover Asia in 1911 when she was 43 years old. Five years later, in 1916, she ventured to the border of Tibet without the agreement of the British authorities. Alexandra went illegal to discover this country that fascinates her. But what will she find there? The historian Virginie Girod continues her story and explains how Alexandra David-Néel made every effort sometimes even illegally to finally discover the country that made her dream so much. "Au Cœur de l'Histoire" is a Europe 1 Studio podcast. Find Virginie Girod in Madame Figaro on newsstands on March 31 with an unpublished portrait. https://madame.lefigaro.fr
Topics covered: Tibet – Exploration – Asia – Buddhism – Forbidden City – Orientalism - Freedom - Politics – Feminism – China – Singer
Bibliography:
Laure-Dominique Agniel, Alexandra David-Néel, explorer and feminist, Tallandier, Texto, 2021.
Fred Campoy and Mathieu Blanchot, Une vie avec Alexandra David-Néel, Grand Angle, 3 volumes.
Virginie Girod, Les ambitions, 40 femmes qui ont marque l'histoire par leur volonté d'exister, M6 éditions.
Antoine de Maximy, Alexandra David-Néel, from Sikkim to Tibet Forbidden, MK2 Doc.
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"At the heart of history" is a Europe 1 Studio podcast.
Writing and presentation: Virginie Girod
- Producer: Adèle Humbert
- Artistic direction: Adèle Humbert and Julien Tharaud
- Director: Clément Ibrahim
- Original music: Julien Tharaud
- Additional music: Julien Tharaud and Sébastien Guidis
- Communication: Kelly Decroix
- Distribution and writing: Romain Vintillas
- Visual: Sidonie Mangin
Listen to the rest of the story dedicated to the explorer Alexandra David-Néel. Before discovering the Forbidden City of Lhasa, Alexandra David-Néel explored all of Asia from China to Korea via Japan. It was during her Asian travels that she met a priest who disguised himself as a Chinese monk to access the Forbidden City of Lhasa. Alexandra quickly understands that it is not good to be a Westerner in Asia at this time. To hide that she is Western, Alexandra thinks it would be wise to cover her face with soot and keep her hood over her head. But will this plan work? "Au Cœur de l'Histoire" is a Europe 1 Studio podcast.