You might know that three years ago, La Vie des Id?es (www.laviedesid?es.fr), an online journal devoted to intellectual and political debates, was founded. Over this period of time, La Vie des Id?es has established itself in France as a major place for academic debates and a highly respected network of expertise.
Last December, we launched, with the standing support of the Coll?ge de France, an English version of the French website: Books & Ideas (www.booksandideas.net), so that French scholarship and texts could be better known abroad.
Books & Ideas includes hitherto unpublished articles and book reviews written in English, but also translations of a selection of the texts published in French on laviedesidees.fr. The site’s purpose is to provide quality information about current intellectual life and publications in France and internationally, as well as discussions of major contemporary issues, in the form of in-depth essays, interviews and public debates. The consultation of the website and subscription to the newsletter are free of charge.
Booksandideas.net intends to give all fields of scholarship a wide exposure thanks to the resources of the internet. In this way, I want to contribute together with the editorial team to disseminating knowledge and investigations beyond their sphere of production, and to lift the barriers that exist between academic disciplines.
To reach such an objective, we have adopted three principles:
— to bring together in the same place, and in equal numbers, essays and book reviews, written by the best specialists. Videos and podcasts of conversations with key figures in the intellectual world; dialogues and debates on controversial issues; and thematic dossiers are also already online.
— to do this with a view to pluri- and trans-disciplinarity: to recognize all of the separate components of knowledge, but at the same time to encourage dialogue.
— to embrace the international by taking an interest in the debates and books at the centre of intellectual life on every continents, and by drawing on a worldwide network of correspondents.
Please have a look at the website, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any question about this intellectual enterprise. We would also be extremely grateful to you if you could forward this information to your colleagues or fellow researchers who might also have an interest in the site.
Best regards
