1 The ‘Internal Exotic’: A Postcolonial Re-reading of Nineteenth-Century Alsatian and Corsican Literature in French By Julia Elfriede Lorber A dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews (School of Modern Languages) 31/01/2013 Total number of pages: 261 2 Abstract This thesis examines nineteenth-century French literature about the peripheral regions of Alsace and Corsica, observing the discursive process of their incorporation into the imagined French landscape. Firstly, approaching literature from a postcolonial angle, this thesis shows how Alsace and Corsica were represented as exotic by contemporary canonical writers. ‘Internal exoticism’ helped conceptualise these regions as different from the French self, while justifying their rule by France. It also investigates how nineteenth-century Parisian authors envisaged Alsace’s and Corsica’s transition from ‘otherness’ to ‘Frenchness.’ Secondly, this research reveals long-forgotten regional authors, who endeavoured to write about their provinces in French for the first time. It analyses the influence of Parisian literary figures on these authors, showing whether they were imitating or responding to canonical representations. This process reveals regional writers’ tendencies to ‘auto-exoticise’, seeing their provinces through the eyes of the centre. Finally, this analysis shows how French nation-building was interlinked with France’s larger imperial project, suggesting that peripheral provinces were often perceived through the same conceptual framework as overseas colonies. This thesis contributes to the field of French studies by unearthing unknown authors, and by applying a new theoretical framework, drawing on literary, political and socio-cultural approaches, to the study of France. 3 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, Julia Elfriede Lorber, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 95,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in October 2009 and as a candidate for the degree of PhD in French Studies in October 2009; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2009 and 2013. Date: 31/01/2013 Signature of candidate ……… 2. Supervisor’s declaration: I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in French Studies in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date: 31/01/2013 Signature of supervisor ……… 3. Permission for electronic publication: In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and the abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use unless exempt by award of an embargo as requested below, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis. I have obtained any third-party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration, or have requested the appropriate embargo below. 4 4. Request of embargo: The following is an agreed request by candidate and supervisor regarding the electronic publication of this thesis: (ii) Access to all of printed copy but embargo of all of electronic publication of thesis for a period of five years on the following ground: publication would preclude future publication Date: 31/01/2013 Signature of candidate …… Signature of supervisor ……… 5 Acknowledgements I would like to thank: -Dr David Evans, the best, most encouraging, inspiring and helpful tutor I could possibly have imagined, for his hard work, good advice, and enduring enthusiasm. -the University of St Andrews, for granting me the scholarship without which I could not have carried out this research. -my husband, Aaron O’Neill, for his continuing support and encouragement. -my parents, Dr Kurt and Renate Lorber, for believing in me and supporting my choices. -my valiant proof readers: Merrie Goddard, Aaron O’Neill, and Jonathan Thiessen. - Tiina Pulkkinen, for her timely technical assistance. -David Prekel for his much-appreciated help. -the Bibliothèque Universitaire et Nationale de Strasbourg and their staff. -the Bibliothèques Fesch and Sampiero in Ajaccio and their staff. -the Bibliothèque de l’Université de Corse and their staff. -Alexandra and Gaël Bogdan and Stefanie and Alain Luccioni for their warm welcome on Corsica. -Jenny and Mark Stirling for their amazing hospitality in St Andrews. -the community of Les Navigateurs de Strasbourg and in particular Alison and Gez Perry and Lauri and Jaap Korving for welcoming me in Strasbourg, looking after me and providing much-needed mental balance. -my Creator, for enabling, strengthening and at times carrying me through this journey. You are where the good ideas come from! 6 Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Alsace ................................................................................................................................................ 2 Corsica .............................................................................................................................................. 8 France ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Nation-formation ............................................................................................................................ 13 Empire-building............................................................................................................................... 16 Striking parallels .............................................................................................................................. 18 The discovery of the regions ........................................................................................................... 19 ‘Us’ and ‘ours’: ‘inner others’ and the internal exotic ..................................................................... 22 Postcolonial France ......................................................................................................................... 27 Postcolonial analysis ....................................................................................................................... 30 Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 34 Parisian Corsican narratives ................................................................................................................ 37 Contexts and backgrounds .............................................................................................................. 38 Authenticity and ethnology ............................................................................................................ 42 Tourism, imagined journeys and travel invitations ......................................................................... 44 A French possession without a French identity .............................................................................. 47 A land before time and its history ................................................................................................... 54 Savages ........................................................................................................................................... 59 Une mission civilisatrice .................................................................................................................. 69 From Savages to Frenchmen ........................................................................................................... 78 Mimic men ...................................................................................................................................... 84 Constructions of identity ................................................................................................................ 91 Central uncertainties ...................................................................................................................... 95 The making of France on Corsica – a colonial reinvention ............................................................ 102 Insular Corsican narratives ................................................................................................................ 106 Authors, backgrounds, perspectives ............................................................................................. 106 The practice of writing in French on nineteenth-century Corsica ................................................. 111 Writing in the midst of historical, political and social change ....................................................... 119 Parisian literature as basis for identity