French Literature Reviews - 2026

B. Didier, Little Magazines and the Bohemian Spirit at the End of the 19th Century (1878-1889): Panurge, Le Chat noir, La Vogue, Le Décadent, La Plume
History, Politics and Society

Bénédicte DIDIER

LITTLE MAGAZINES AND THE BOHEMIAN SPIRIT AT THE END OF THE 19^e XIX^e CENTURY (1878-1889)

PANURGE, LE CHAT NOIR, LA VOGUE, LE DECADENT, LA PLUME

L'Harmattan, coll. Critiques Littéraires, Paris, March 2009, 386 p.

ISBN : 978-2-296-07923-6

Publisher's price : 34 euros.

Publisher's overview:

At the end of the 19^e 19th century, a profusion of short-lived little magazines launched an assault on the literary and artistic establishment in an effort to lead a cohort of young artists toward glory. Teeming with inner tensions, these publications—at once innovative and conservative, moralistic and immoral, naturalistic and symbolist—became a crucible for novel ideas foreshadowing future avant-gardes. From Le Chat noir to La Plume, from the café to the editorial office, the reader is plunged directly into the history of a press that forged a unique path entirely outside the bounds of conventional honors.

Contents :

Introduction: A Grand Mardi Gras of the Mind

PART ONE: LITTLE MAGAZINES WITHIN THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF THE LATE 19th CENTURY

1. A New Generation

2. Under the Reign of the Green Muse

3. From Editorial Offices to Distribution

PART TWO: CALLS TO INSURRECTION

1. The Twilight of the Idols

2. Social Demands

3. Sensibilities in Revolt

4. Humor as a Provocateur

PART THREE: CONTROLLED NONCONFORMITY

1. Bohemian Nihilism and Its Dangers

2. The Revival of Modern Mirth

3. A Fresh Perspective on Marginality

PART FOUR: THE PATHS TO RESPECTABILITY

1. From Novelty to Conformism

2. Little Magazines and Advertising

3. Journeys of Several Bohemian Travelers

Conclusion: The Margin of Honor

Bibliography

Index of contributors to Panurge, Le Chat noir, La Vogue, Le Décadent, and La Plume

Chronology of Little Magazines (1878-1889)

The Montmartre Press from 1880 to 1900

Acknowledgments

Index

Table of Contents

During the final decades of the nineteenth century, the Parisian literary scene witnessed a proliferation of ephemeral periodicals that challenged established cultural norms. Publications such as Le Chat noir, La Vogue, and La Plume operated at the margins of traditional publishing, serving as laboratories for artistic experimentation and generational expression. Bénédicte Didier examines this vibrant press culture, tracing how these reviews navigated the tension between iconoclasm and institutional integration. Readers interested in the history of French print culture and bohemian networks may find this volume informative.