Le barbare d'à côté (1900-1939)

At the turn of the 20th century, several protagonists of the literary world invoke the coming of the «barbarians», whom they recognize in some categories of writers. Their wishes will come true: many authors, whose «barbarity» is particularly appreciated, will soon establish themselves in the literary field. They are mostly «next door barbarians»: francophone writers from Belgium or Switzerland; foreigners who have adopted the French language; French people who emigrated; provincial or non-professional writers. Starting from an analyses of the changes in the literary field, this article tackles the way these authors emerge. The author then focuses on the characteristics of their barbarism (as perceived by critics). This will help to understand the issues related to the use of such a label, as well as the implications for the authors’ narrative and aesthetic options.