Ireland at 'Les Belles Etrangères' literary festival Nov. & Dec. 1989

Thirty years ago, in November and December 1989, ten Irish writers and poets were invited to France to discuss their work in front of audiences of academics and locals. Some of them were already known to French readers, as their work had previously been translated into French. I have just written an online article for the Irish Times newspaper about it. Read it here.

Painting of John Montague by Colin Davidson in University College Cork (UCC).

The literary festival, Les Belles Etrangeres, took place in France from 1987 to 2010. Each year, writers and poets from a different foreign country were invited to France to discuss their work. In 1989, Ireland was selected. 

Les Belles Etrangeres Festival Brochure 1989.

The official festival brochure was mostly written by Prof Patrick Rafroidi. He was an expert on Irish Studies in France and internationally. He was also a relation of Alfred O'Rahilly (1884-1969) (President of University College Cork, UCC). It contained information on each of the writers and also details of the French translation of their work. You can download a copy of the festival brochure here.

The festival was intended to introduce foreign writers to a French audience that might not ordinarily come across them. In the case of Ireland, it worked. Today, Irish writers are translated into French and are well known to the reading audience in France and in French speaking countries.

Samuel Beckett's letters - a glimpse into the personal world of a private man

The Irish playwright and theatre director, Samuel Beckett, was an avid letter writer. He took the time to reply to friends and family as well as to a plethora of people who wrote to him about his work. This included academics, theatre professionals and admirers from all over the world. I have just written an Irishman's Diary in the Irish Times newspaper about his letters. Read it here.

Photographs of Samuel Beckett (1906-1989). Source.

Four volumes of his correspondence have been published and the letters show that Beckett was a  kind man who valued friendship and was a loyal friend. Depending on the situation and depending on what hardships (death of loved ones, illness) they were going through, he expressed empathy or sympathy with close friends and family. 

The letters also reveal that he could be funny and had a great wit. They offer an unparalleled view into the private world of a very private individual. For instance, in a letter to an American autograph dealer, Beckett said "I have little contact with writers in Paris. It was always a place of rival cliques. I find painters better company. But generally speaking I go out very little".  

It was not all sweetness and light. Beckett could also be sarcastic. In one letter, he said that he thought that the actor, Albert Finney, was unsuited for a role in Beckett's play, Krapp's Last Tape. When the actor, Jack MacGowran, died in 1973, Beckett said that he felt as if he was being put forward as chief mourner for MacGowran He said that he felt as unsuited for the role as Finney was for his role in Krapp's Last Tape. MacGowran was a friend of Beckett's and had acted in several of his plays.