Creation
The legend of Belles Lettres all started during the Great War, when the linguist Joseph Vendryes (1875–1960), who was fighting against the Germans, wished to read a critical edition of Homer. Unfortunately at this time there were no critical French editions, only German.
At the end of the war they created the Association Guillaume Budé- - named after the French humanist of the 16th century. The association gave a goal to spread the great classics from the Greek and Latin culture, and decided to publish "a comprehensive collection of Greek and Latin authors, texts and translations in French. "
But the Association Guillaume Budé- did not afford its ambitions. To edit these classics, a publishing company was founded, the company Oxford University Press for the development of classical culture, now publishing company Oxford University Press. Capital was assembled from "friends of French manufacturers of Classics," a total of 300 shareholders. Its first president was the Hellenist Paul Mazon (1874–1955), translator of Homer. The headquarters of the editions was in Paris at 157 Boulevard Saint-Germain.
Read more about this topic: Les Belles Lettres, History
Famous quotes containing the word creation:
“Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one.”
—Salman Rushdie (b. 1947)
“Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights. The shadows of poverty and meanness gather around us, “and lo! creation widens to our view.””
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The creation of “strong-minded” women, so-called, is due to the individualism of men, to the modern selfish and speculative spirit which absorbs everything within itself and leaves women nothing but self-assertion for their protection and support.”
—“Jennie June” Croly 1829–1901, U.S. founder of the woman’s club movement, journalist, author, editor. Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly and Mirror of Fashions, p. 44 (February 1870)