“Uncle Sam” is commonly used as a symbol of the United States, but where does the name come from? The name, which happens to have the same initials as the country, has been around since the War of 1812 (which actually lasted from 1812 to 1815) between the U.S.A. and the U.K. The officially sanctioned … Continue reading “Happy Uncle Sam Day!”
The 2021 UK Women’s Prize for Fiction has been won by Susanna Clarke for Piranesi, only her second novel, published 16 years after her immensely popular Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Like its predecessor, Piranesi is an experimental novel in the realm of fantasy. Piranesi lives alone in an immense labyrinthine house surrounded by sea. … Continue reading “2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction Winner”
26 September is the Day of European Languages, celebrating all the diversity of languages across the continent. For the 20th anniversary edition, there are some great teaching resources. The general theme of the resources is interesting quirks and facts about the different languages, starting with a downloadable poster called “20 Things You Might Not Know … Continue reading “European Language Day 2021”
The Institut-Franco-Américain in Rennes is marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with an exhibition and a talk. On 21 September, Florian Treguer from University Rennes 2 will look back on the 9/11 attacks through the prism of Don DeLillo’s 2007 novel Falling Man. And an exhibition, 20 Ans Après Never Forget, by … Continue reading “9/11 Commemorated in Rennes”
Prizewinning Irish novelist Colum McCann will discuss freedom and resistance in his work at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris on 4 September, with musical accompaniment from fiddler Colm Mac Con Iomaire, who shares his commitment to dialogue and peace. McCann’s most recent novel Apeirogon has received recognition from around the world including in France le prix … Continue reading “Colum McCann: Literature and Music”
Just ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow at the end of October, a cinema release for the documentary I am Greta. The young environmental activist who started School Strike for the Climate in 2018 is still only 18, but has had a profound effect on environmentalists young and old. The documentary was made almost … Continue reading “She is Greta”
Both the U.S.A. and Canada celebrate their countries’ workers on the first Monday in September, they just don’t agree on the spelling! Featuring picnics, barbecues but also political speeches, both public holidays grew out of union movements in the late nineteenth century demanding shorter working days and more rights for workers. It’s no coincidence that … Continue reading “Labor or Labour Day?”
3 September is Jersey Day in Australia. People wear sports jerseys to work to raise awareness of a good cause: the importance of organ donation. The day was started by the family of a 13-year-old, Nathan Gremmo, who suffered a fatal injury but chose to donate his organs, which saved six other lives. Nathan was … Continue reading “Wear a Sports Jersey, Support Life”
Fingers crossed, the two major Anglophone film festivals in France are set to go ahead. The Deauville American Film Festival on 3-12 September and the Dinard British Film Festival from 29 September to 3 October. The chances are that there will be fewer Hollywood stars on the boardwalks than usual at Deauville but there will … Continue reading “Deauville and Dinard Film Festivals”
On 11 September 2001, the world watched in horror and disbelief as first one plane and then a second crashed into the Twin Towers of the NYC’s World Trade Center. Then news spread of a third hijacked plane heading to the Pentagon and a fourth that crashed en route to Washington, D.C., thanks to the … Continue reading “9/11 20 Years On”