Javier Cercas

This reading group will explore, in eight sessions, a selection of literary works that have “transcended the time and place of their origin,” in the spirit of Martin Bodmer’s definition of Weltliteratur — or world literature — as dear to Goethe. A literary journey across time and continents, guided by the shared affinities of the participants.

Historian of art, Hélène Leibkutsch moves between languages and cultures, driven by her passion for art, literature, and music. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Geneva, where she studied art history, general linguistics, and English, as well as a CAS in Cultural Institution Promotion from the University of Neuchâtel. With international experience in art history and the art market, she has maintained a deep interest in literature throughout her career. She served on the board of the Société de Lecture, acting as vice-president for two terms (2008–2010; 2012–2019), and chaired the Reading Commission (2010–2021), where she remains an active member.

In French.

Emmanuel Rondeau, financier and bank administrator and author of Les frères d’Astier de La Vigerie, Français libres (Tallandier, 2025), combines family memory and historical inquiry. He examines three members of the d’Astier de la Vigerie family — each with divergent public roles yet united in their commitment to the French Resistance — to reveal how personal convictions shaped national destiny. The lecture explores political identity, courage and the moral complexities of resistance, told with close knowledge and narrative panache.

In French.