La Table ronde

La Table ronde, formally Éditions de la Table ronde, is a French literary publishing house founded in 1944 by Roland Laudenbach. The name was supplied by Jean Cocteau, and the house began publishing with Jean Anouilh’s play Antigone. It developed a distinctive profile in postwar French literary life by publishing established writers alongside authors whose reputations had been affected by political controversy, accusations of collaboration, or pacifist positions during and after the Second World War. Among its early or prominent authors were Henry de Montherlant, Jean Giono and Paul Morand. The publisher’s identity became particularly associated with conservative, right-wing and anti-Gaullist literary currents during the Algerian War. It was also closely linked with the Hussards, a literary movement whose principal figures included Antoine Blondin, Michel Déon, Jacques Laurent and Roger Nimier. This association gave La Table ronde a recognizable place in the ideological and stylistic debates of twentieth-century French literature, although its catalogue extended well beyond any single movement. Other authors published by the house included Claude Mauriac, Henri Troyat, Marcel Aymé, Bernard Frank, Roger Stéphane, Jean Freustié, Daniel Boulanger and Alain Bosquet. Laudenbach remained central to the company for much of its formative period and retired in 1990. Denis Tillinac then led the house and developed a later generation of authors, including Jean-Paul Kauffmann, Frédéric H. Fajardie, Yves Charnet, Jean-Claude Pirotte, Frédérick Tristan, Xavier Patier, William Cliff and Michel Monnereau. Alice Déon succeeded Tillinac in 2007. The publishing house had already been acquired by Gallimard in 1958 and became an imprint of Gallimard in 1996, giving it access to the infrastructure of one of France’s major publishing groups while preserving its distinct literary identity. La Table ronde publishes French literary fiction, essays, memoirs, poetry, drama and related works. Its catalogue has received significant recognition, including Prix Renaudot awards for books by Roger Peyrefitte, Georges Govy, Jean Freustié, Alphonse Boudard and Gabriel Matzneff; a Grand Prix du roman de l’Académie française for Michel de Saint-Pierre; Prix Interallié awards for Antoine Blondin and Henry Muller; and a Prix du Livre Inter for Catherine d’Etchéa. The imprint remains part of the contemporary French publishing landscape under the Gallimard umbrella.

Éditions de la Table ronde was established in France in 1944 by Roland Laudenbach. The name was provided by Jean Cocteau, and the house’s first publication was Jean Anouilh’s Antigone. From its earliest years, the publisher built a catalogue around literary fiction, drama, essays and other forms of serious writing. Its early activity unfolded in the politically charged environment of postwar France, where questions of collaboration, resistance, pacifism and political allegiance shaped literary reputations. La Table ronde became known for publishing several writers who had been excluded or criticized by the Conseil national des écrivains because of allegations of collaboration or pacifist positions. Its catalogue included Henry de Montherlant, Jean Giono and Paul Morand. During the Algerian War, the house acquired a stronger right-wing and anti-Gaullist reputation. This political image was reinforced by its close relationship with the Hussards, a literary movement associated with Antoine Blondin, Michel Déon, Jacques Laurent and Roger Nimier. The imprint nevertheless published a broad range of writers, including Claude Mauriac, Henri Troyat, Marcel Aymé, Bernard Frank, Roger Stéphane, Jean Freustié, Daniel Boulanger and Alain Bosquet. The house’s catalogue continued to evolve after its formative postwar period. A later generation associated with La Table ronde included Alphonse Boudard, Gabriel Matzneff, Frédéric Musso and Éric Neuhoff. Roland Laudenbach retired in 1990 and was succeeded by Denis Tillinac. During Tillinac’s tenure, the publisher issued works by Jean-Paul Kauffmann, Frédéric H. Fajardie, Yves Charnet, Jean-Claude Pirotte, Frédérick Tristan, Xavier Patier, William Cliff and Michel Monnereau. Alice Déon succeeded Tillinac in 2007. Gallimard acquired the company in 1958. In 1996, La Table ronde became an imprint of Éditions Gallimard, linking its independent editorial tradition to the distribution, production and institutional resources of a major French publishing group. The imprint’s identity remained connected to literary publishing rather than mass-market production. Its books have received a number of important French literary prizes, including the Prix Renaudot, the Grand Prix du roman de l’Académie française, the Prix Interallié and the Prix du Livre Inter. The house is active as a Gallimard imprint and continues to publish French-language literary works.

• 2007

  Alice Déon takes over leadership

  [1]Éditions de la Table rondeen.wikipedia.org

  Alice Déon succeeded Denis Tillinac as the publisher's director.

• 1996

  The house becomes a Gallimard imprint

  [1]Éditions de la Table rondeen.wikipedia.org

  La Table ronde formally became an imprint of Éditions Gallimard while retaining its own editorial identity.

• 1990

  Denis Tillinac succeeds Roland Laudenbach

  [1]Éditions de la Table rondeen.wikipedia.org

  After Laudenbach retired, Denis Tillinac took over leadership of the publishing house.

• 1958

  Gallimard acquires the company

  [1]Éditions de la Table rondeen.wikipedia.org

  Éditions Gallimard acquired La Table ronde, beginning its long association with the larger publishing group.

• 1944

  La Table ronde is founded

  [1]Éditions de la Table rondeen.wikipedia.org

  Roland Laudenbach founded the publishing house in France. Jean Cocteau provided the name, and the first published title was Jean Anouilh's Antigone.

A French literary imprint with a historically independent, author-centered identity and a strong association with postwar literary debate, conservative literary circles and the Hussards, now operating within the Éditions Gallimard publishing group.

• Books · 1944

  Literary fiction

  Literary fiction is the central component of La Table ronde's catalogue. The imprint has published French and translated literary works by major twentieth-century authors as well as later generations of novelists. Its fiction list is associated with authorial distinction, literary debate and recognition by major French prizes rather than with a narrowly commercial genre specialization.

• Books · 1944

  Essays and memoirs

  The imprint publishes essays, memoirs and reflective nonfiction alongside its fiction list. These works contribute to its longstanding role in French intellectual and literary culture, including writing connected with politics, society, literary criticism and personal experience.

• Books · 1944

  Poetry and drama

  Poetry and dramatic writing form part of the house's broader literary programme. The catalogue's first publication, Jean Anouilh's Antigone, established a connection with drama at the outset, while later authors such as William Cliff and others extended the imprint's engagement with literary forms beyond the novel.

• 1996

  La Table ronde is integrated as a Gallimard imprintStrategy

  Background

  Following Gallimard's earlier acquisition, the publishing house was positioned within the larger group's imprint structure.

  Action taken

  La Table ronde became an imprint of Éditions Gallimard.

  Aftermath

  The imprint retained its literary name and catalogue identity while operating within Gallimard's publishing organization.

  Source

• 1958

  Gallimard acquires La Table rondeM&A

  Background

  The independent French literary publisher had established a distinct postwar catalogue and political-literary identity.

  Action taken

  Éditions Gallimard acquired the company.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition created a long-term relationship with Gallimard, culminating in La Table ronde operating as a Gallimard imprint from 1996.

  Source

1. 1Éditions de la Table rondeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official La Table ronde websiteeditionslatableronde.fr