Opening of the French Cultural Center at the Library of Foreign Literature

MOSCOW. A breath of fresh air with a French accent.

The opening of the “Frankothek”, which took place on July 7 in the Great Hall of the Rudomino Library, is unlikely to lead to a revival of gallomania and an infatuation with the French. The experience of bilingualism of noble families will hardly be taken into service in a country passionate about the idea of forming a national identity. The current Chatsky, if they have to lament the alien power of the mods and nausea on the side of the alien, critical arrows are most often sent along a different trajectory.

The main goal of the center is to strengthen cultural ties with French-speaking countries. With all the "ensuing consequences": acquaintance with literature, language learning, communication with its speakers, film screenings, lectures. The extensive frankothek fund, supplemented by thousands of volumes, will add a lot of new surnames to a couple of dozens of well-known writer names.

One of the first events of the new project was an exhibition of books from the popular children’s publishing house L’École des loisirs, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Over the years, it introduced its readers to the books of Dumas (Alexandre Dumas), Hugo (Victor Marie Hugo), Verne (Jules Gabriel Verne), Gauthier (Théophile Gautier), Maupassant (Guy de Maupassant), Claude Boujon (Claude Boujon), Claude Ponti (Claude Ponti). Fascinating and instructive stories, charming characters, beautiful illustrations - an unmistakable choice for family reading.

Any initiative similar to the creation of the “Frankothek” is a small window or window in Europe, providing an influx of fresh air into the stuffy room.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru