French "Polar"

Step into the shadowy world of le polar: France’s favorite brand of crime fiction, where detective stories meet psychological thrillers and bleak noir, and a pessimistic sociology of the world.  Join journalist Hélène Crié-Wiesner for a virtual talk that promises mystery, intrigue, and a distinctly French twist.

In French - free for all
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Le Polar (Crime Fiction)  a Very French Specialty

Few genres are as distinctly French as le polar - crime fiction in all its forms, from mystery novels to psychological thrillers and gritty noir and a pessimistic sociology of the world. Unlike traditional mysteries, French crime fiction often prioritizes the tortured inner lives of its characters over the mechanics of the investigation. Don’t expect tidy happy endings here. The “neo-polar,” as it came to be called, emerged in 1971 and has been shaping the genre ever since.

Already a favorite source for films and TV series, French crime fiction has also conquered the comic book world. Graphic novels (bandes dessinées or BD), hugely popular in France, have embraced the genre, while universities dedicate entire courses and research to it.

Each year, dozens of crime fiction festivals spring up across the country, awarding prizes that can catapult new writers into the spotlight. Every major publisher now has its own crime fiction imprint - most famously Gallimard’s Série Noire, the legendary collection celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

Hélène Crié-Wiesner, a French-American journalist and novelist published in the Série Noire herself, has long explored the cultural quirks of her two homelands. Hélène has previously given talks for Alliance Française about the Parisian phenomenon of the Rentrée littéraire and France’s enduring passion for French BD (French comics.)