La Revue du monde libre

It contains two of the most important texts of literary Resistance: Paul Éluard’s poem “Liberté,” reprinted from the journal Fontaine under the title “Une seule pensée,” which opens this issue, and Vercors’ Le Silence de la mer, here titled “Les Silences de la mer,” which closes it.

Founded in London in January 1943, La Revue du monde libre, a monthly, ran to twenty issues, until August 1944. Copies were dropped by airplane, by the thousand, over the major cities of occupied France: “To the French people over whom the total night of the German occupation has fallen, we dedicate this modest review, intended to maintain a current of ideas between the free countries and the territories awaiting liberation. For the latter, we endeavor to open a small window onto the outside world.” With this warning: “Men and women risk their lives to see that this review reaches its destination. Make sure it is placed in the hands of those who can put it to the best use, especially our compatriots of the clandestine press, whose courage is admired by all.”

A previous copy, presented in our catalogue “Paul Éluard 1942,” was acquired by the Musée de l’Armée, which exhibited it in the exhibition “Un Exil combattant. Les artistes et la France 1939-1945,” held from 26 February to 22 June 2022. A fascinating catalogue (Éditions Gallimard | Musée de l’Armée) was published for the occasion.