De Provence Research Articles

The effect of rosé wine colors on expected flavor and tastiness: A cross-modal correspondence explanation

How and why do wines with different colors influence consumer responses? Despite strong evidence from research on cross-modal correspondences that food and drink colors influence flavor perceptions and subsequent consumer responses, it is unclear from the wine literature whether consumers prefer paler or slightly darker colors of rosé. The aim of this research is twofold: (1) identify from an existing set of (relatively pale) prototypical color shades of Rosé de Provence what specific color (paler vs. slightly darker) leads to more positive consumer responses and (2) shed light on the underlying mechanisms that explain this relationship. Using a large sample of French wine consumers (n = 601), we test our hypotheses via a within-subjects design experiment. We first examined the effect of five shades of Rosé de Provence wines (nacre, light melon, sand, melon, and peach) on consumer responses (willingness to pay, willingness to buy, color liking). To further investigate the underlying roles of fruity flavor and expected tastiness (in that order), we conducted a series of two-condition within-subjects serial mediations. Our findings consistently show more positive consumer responses for Rosés de Provence with peach and melon shades (i.e., slightly darker colors) compared to nacre, light melon, and sand shades (i.e., paler colors). Further, a stronger association between slightly darker colors and fruity flavor enhances expected tastiness, which leads to more positive consumer responses. Our findings provide key theoretical contributions and managerial implications by suggesting consumer responses for Rosés de Provence and corresponding explanations based on cross-modal correspondences.

The Influence of Selected Herb Additives on the Organoleptic and Antioxidant Properties and Storage Stability of Frozen Homemade Tofu

The aim of this study was to check the impact of the addition of selected flavoring herbs on the organoleptic and antioxidant properties of homemade tofu, as well as the possibility of its storage extension by freezing. The optimization of homemade tofu production based on organic soy and the enrichment (2% w/w) of obtained tofu with dried plant additives (wild garlic, basil, Herbes de Provence, black cumin seeds, and dried cranberries) was performed. The manufactured tofu was compared to commercial tofu (control) in terms of antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and polyphenol profile using thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Moreover, the texture profile and organoleptic assessment of the compared products were performed. The antioxidant and texture parameters were also controlled in tofu fixed by different methods: cold herbal infusion and prolonged freezing of vacuum-packed products. It was shown that homemade tofu was characterized by better sensory and texture properties than commercial product. Moreover, the introduction of plant additives to tofu increased the antioxidant activity and the content of polyphenols in the final product; the greater the activity of the herbs used, the higher the degree of tofu enrichment was achieved. In terms of all analyzed parameters, cranberries and Herbes de Provence additives to tofu were found to be the first choice. It was found that the addition of herbs to tofu allowed us to create new sensory features, enhanced the pro-healthy value, and extended the storage time. Due to no significant changes in texture and antioxidant properties of frozen tofu, as well as its acceptable microbial quality, freezing vacuum-packed tofu can be recommended as a beneficial way to extend the storage time at home condition. The addition of herbs allows for the design of new versions of tofu in accordance with consumer preferences, and the proposed packaging method can be applied on an industrial scale.

Promoting olive as a tourist attraction in Saint-Rémy de Provence: between symbolic requalification and misappropriation of heritage values

This article examines the place of the olive heritage and its products in the tourism promotion of Saint-Rémy de Provence. This Provencal town was chosen because it is located in a region which is famous for its olive groves. By studying the iconic discourse based on the use of images linked to the olive-growing heritage, the aim is to examine the hypothesis that the olive, olive oil and the olive tree have above all an emblematic value as symbols of Provence. Our aim is to show that they are used primarily for commercial and tourist purposes, as well as being witnesses to a claimed cultural identity.

Performing medieval narrative and song

The bipartite event ‘Imagining French Narrative and Song c.1100–c.1350: Literary, Musicological and Performance Perspectives’ was held in the magnificent setting of St John’s College, University of Cambridge on 14 January 2023. It comprised a conference at the Old Divinity School—an impressive late Victorian edifice built in the Gothic Revival style—and a closing concert in the nearby medieval Round Church, founded in the early 12th century and modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Coincidentally marking the date of the 787th anniversary of the marriage in 1236 between an English king (Henry III) and a French noblewoman (Éléonore de Provence), plus also that of the annual medieval ‘Feast of the Ass’ (celebrating the Flight into Egypt, with its famous Latin and French conductus Orientis partibus referring to an ass ‘from Eastern regions’), there was perhaps no better occasion for ‘imagining’ medieval French romances and songs, both in terms of their international impact and also changing medieval perceptions of them, whether secular or sacred. Attended by around 35 delegates, the conference included 12 papers given by literary scholars and musicologists from universities in the UK, France, Belgium and the USA; this international mix thus set the groundwork for an exciting interchange of ideas between academics from frequently isolated yet closely overlapping disciplines.

CO2 modified atmosphere packaging: stress condition or treatment to preserve fruit and vegetable quality?

In addition to the adoption of proper temperature and relative humidity, the selection of an atmosphere surrounding packaged fresh produce with reduced O2 and/or increased CO2 is one of the most widely used and useful tools to prolong the shelf-life of horticultural crops. However, as O2 and/or CO2 values that might cause injury are strictly related to the commodity, they should be optimized for each product. Here three study cases are reported about the application of modified atmospheres (MA), with different CO2 concentrations (0-40 kPa), to table grapes (cv. Italia) and sweet cherries (cv. Ferrovia) and, as short-term treatment (48 h at 0 °C), to fresh-cut artichokes (cv. Violet de Provence). In each trial, the effect of high CO2 treatment on quality parameters was observed during cold storage. Concerning table grape “Italia”, our results show that low CO2 (up to 10kPa) MA preserved the quality and sensory parameters of the fruit, whereas high CO2 (> 20 kPa) caused a fermentative metabolism. As for sweet cherries 'Ferrovia', 20 kPa CO2 MA helped to maintain the quality traits during storage. On the other hand, this fruit proved to be sensitive to CO2 accumulation (over 20kPa) in hypoxic conditions, since it caused an increase in respiration rate and the biosynthesis of volatile fermentative metabolites. Finally, for fresh-cut artichokes, a short-term CO2 treatment, up to 10kPa, reduced respiration rate and browning index, preserving the volatile profile, while high CO2 (40 kPa) may have caused fermentative metabolism. In conclusion, the application of a MA enriched in CO2 has been shown to have different effects on the quality parameters of the three products, in agreement with the fact that CO2 sensibility depends on each specific fruit or vegetable under study.

La dématérialisation au service de l’appellation

The risks around appellations having their reputation abused and their names tarnished, as well as the risk of counterfeit, are becoming a reality that must be fought. The Côtes de Provence wine syndicate, recognised as a defence and management organisation under article L 642-22 of the rural and maritime fishing code, is responsible for defending the integrity and name of the appellation from which it derives. Its role is to protect the use of the distinctive "Provence" name that is unique to the wine world. In addition to the legal framework around securing exports, which will be the subject of a brief introductory development, the syndicate must adapt to new information technologies in order to seize on regulatory opportunity.

Use of Bituminous Geomembrane (BGM) to Waterproof Large Canals

Bituminous geomembranes (BGM) collaborate in the global challenge of improving water resources management by waterproofing hydraulic works. BGMs are multi-layered composite geomembranes with each of the components providing a technical benefit on large canals projects. These technical advantages include: A very low Manning coefficient for efficient water flow, extreme puncture resistance, which allows rapid deployment on rougher subgrades and permits many types of cover directly on top, excellent resistance to wind uplift due to their high surface mass, meaning installation can be done in strong winds up to 40 km/h. BGMs also have a very low coefficient of thermal expansion and do not wrinkle with changes in temperature like other polymeric membranes do. This is particularly useful in high heat projects when geomembrane is left exposed, providing a more secure project in the long run with less risk of wrinkle-induced cracks and failures. To illustrate this, this presentation will describe the composite structure of bituminous geomembranes and will explain its main advantages in the hydraulic field. All these will be presented with the description of test results in different types of large width canals: Canals for irrigation: in France, for the waterproofing of the Canal de Provence; in India, where the Maharashtra state decided to replace original concrete for a geomembrane lining system in Pench Canal. Navigable canals: in France where VNF (French Waterways) chose the BGM for waterproofing the repairs of its canals. A work near Montargis will be presented as well as waterways in England (Lancaster Canal) and Canada (Chambly Canal). Finally, hydroelectric power canals will be also described: at the Sankt Dyonisen power plant in the Alps in Austria and the Cumpeo power plant in the Maule region in Chile.

Functional Analysis of the Genotypic Differences in Response of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) to Calcareous-Induced Iron Deficiency

Lime-induced iron chlorosis is a major nutritional disorder causing severe plant growth and yield reduction in the calcareous soils of Tunisia. The understanding the behavior of key metabolic functions of peas on calcareous soils, the identification of useful traits of tolerance, and the exploration of the genotypic differences in response to this constraint remain the most efficient approaches due to their coast, environmental benefits, and sustainability. For this purpose, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on three pea genotypes (Alexandra: Alex, Douce de provence: DP, and Merveille de Kelvedon: MK) cultivated on calcareous soil (Fe-deficient) and fertile soil (control). Plant growth, SPAD index, iron nutrition and distribution, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzymes were deeply analyzed to discriminate genotypic differences. Calcareous-induced iron deficiency reduced SPAD index, plant growth, net photosynthesis, and tissue Fe content against a significant stimulation of the oxidative stress indicators, H2O2 and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, we reported a significant induction of SOD and CAT activity in shoots and roots of the Alexandra genotype. Fe use efficiency increased on calcareous soil and clearly discriminated the studied genotypes. Alexandra genotype was found to be the most tolerant to lime-induced iron chlorosis. This genotype protects its tissues against oxidative stress by stimulating enzyme activities (SOD and CAT) and develops significant efficiency of Fe uptake, translocation to shoots and use when cultivated on calcareous soil.

Restoration and Resilience: The Last Bourbons and the Revolutionary Past

As early as 1795, immediately after the death of the young Louis XVII in his Parisian prison, the comte de Provence, brother of the late Louis XVI who had been executed in 1793, was hoping the course of history would prove him right. He opted to call himself Louis XVIII, a title which was made official nineteen years later when he became king. Proclaimed in the Déclaration de Vérone on 8 June 1795, in the midst of the Revolution, such an act implied that the Revolution was not happening, had never happened, and would never happen again. Our paper explores this new and ambivalent kind of resilience by examining three decisive moments during the reigns of Louis XVI’s two brothers, Louis XVIII (1814-1824) and Charles X (1824-1830): the First Restoration and the Hundred Days, with their curious institutional novelties and changes of hands; the early Second Restoration, when the game between the old and the new world seemed on and then over; and the first years of Charles X’s reign, when the tensions returned with a vengeance, probably climaxing in 1825 with the Compensation Act, known as “le milliard des émigrés.”

Preliminary Investigation of the Potentialities of a Mesoscale Meteorological Model to Reproduce Experimental Statistics of Rain Attenuation on Earth-Space Links

Current spatial resolutions achieved by mesoscale weather forecast models allow them to be used to generate the state of the lowest layers of the atmosphere over areas as small as a few square kilometers which corresponds to the typical size of the tropospheric area crossed by Earth-space links. Furthermore, they allow the evolution of the troposphere to be predicted with a time stamp of five minutes instead of every hour with large-scale weather forecast models which makes them attractive for radio propagation predictions for satellite communication applications. This paper aims at studying the capability of the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model coupled with an electromagnetic physical model to reproduce rain attenuation statistics for Earth-space paths at Ka-band. To this purpose, one year of propagation measurements collected at 20 GHz in different places at midlatitudes in Toulouse and Salon de Provence (France), Spino d’Adda (Italy), Aveiro (Portugal), and Madrid (Spain), at high latitudes in Svalbard (Norway) and at low latitudes in Kourou are used to make comparisons between simulations and measurements. Comparisons between the simulated and the experimental annual statistics considered in this paper provide encouraging results, with a similar accuracy as Recommendation ITU-R P.618–13 for midlatitude European locations and with better accuracy for a high latitude area in Svalbard and for an equatorial location in French Guiana.

Improvement in the Cynaropicrin, Caffeoylquinic Acid and Flavonoid Content of Globe Artichokes with Gibberellic Acid Treatment.

Increasing interest has been shown in globe artichoke for pharmaceutical and food applications as a significant source of polyphenol compounds. With the aim to improve the polyphenol profile of globe artichoke, an open-field experiment is set up to study the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) application on the cynaropicrin, caffeoylquinic acid and flavone levels of three genotypes (‘Apollo’, ‘Tema 2000’ and ‘Violet de Provence’), along with crop earliness, yield and bio-morphological plant response. The results indicate that GA3 treatment is more effective in terms of total polyphenol and caffeoylquinic acid accumulation in ‘Apollo’, regardless of the plant parts analyzed. In particular, the leaves of ‘Apollo’ were the richest source of luteolin derivatives of 5-O- and 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids. On average across the genotypes, GA3 treatment favored the accumulation of apigenin derivatives in the floral stem, and caffeoylquinic acid and cynaropicrin in the leaves. From the perspective of yield, GA3 treatment allowed us to anticipate the first harvest in each genotype, while either maintaining (‘Apollo’, ‘Violet de Provence’) or enhancing (‘Tema 2000’) the fresh weight yield. In conclusion, this study could be interesting for promoting GA3 usage to ameliorate the globe artichoke nutraceutical profile and to anticipate the first harvest for fresh marketing without significant yield losses.

Nutritional Value and Antioxidant Activity of Fresh Pumpkin Flowers (Cucurbita sp.) Grown in Poland

Pumpkin flowers, in their composition, contain many bioactive ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the human body. The aim of the research was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and chemical composition of flowers of various species and varieties of pumpkins: Amazonka, Ambar, Atlantic Giant, Bambino (Cucurbita maxima L.), Butternut, Muscade de Provence, Rouge vif d’Etampes (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), and Miranda (Cucurbia pepo L.). The flowers came from flowering pumpkin shoots, grown in Poland (Krakow). The total polyphenols, carotenoids, total sugar contents, antioxidant activity, and fatty acid composition were determined. The content of dry matter, protein, ash, fat, and selected minerals were also determined. Pumpkin flowers of the Atlantic Giant variety were characterized by the highest content of total polyphenols and sugars and antioxidant activity. They also showed the highest percentage of n-myristic acid (C14:0) and docosanoic acid (C22:0). The energy value of fresh pumpkin flowers, of all varieties, was low and averaged 22 kcal/100 g. Fresh pumpkin flowers are a significant source of iron, covering 60–80% of the EAR standard for adults (Atlantic Giant and Bambino varieties).

A Probabilistic Method for a Class of Non-Lipschitz BSDEs with Application to Fund Management

The present work is devoted to a study of the solvability of a class of non-Lipschitz and noncanonical backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs) that naturally arises from an intertemporal mutual fund management problem; to this end, we propose a method of combining the techniques of Malliavin calculus and a discussion on the Jacobian flow of the BSDE. Specifically, based on the intimate relationship between $Y_t$ and $Z_t$ of the BSDE via the Malliavin derivative of the former, namely, $D_tY_t=Z_t$, we construct an iterative Picard converging scheme for approximating the underlying solution pair by first obtaining $Z_t$ from the derived BSDE with respect to the Malliavin derivative and then recovering $Y_t$ from the underlying BSDE. A local unique existence result is first warranted over a short time horizon with carefully examined a priori estimates; indeed, each term in the iterative sequence is related to different Girsanov transforms for change of measure, and comparing them demands a delicate analysis. The use of Jacobian flow further enables us to properly control the lower and upper bounds for a certain product of the forward process and $Z_t$, which enables us to extend the solution globally by an inductive argument. Our proposed method is fundamentally different from other probabilistic methods that also involve estimating or bounding Malliavin traces such as [E. Pardoux and S. Peng, Some Backward SDEs with Non-Lipschitz Coefficients, Technical note, Université de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France, 1996] and [M. C. Zedouri, Equations Différentielles Stochastiques Rétrogrades avec Générateurs Lipschitiziens Stochastiques, Master's Thesis, Université Mohammed Seddik Ben Yahia-Jijel, Jijel, Algeria, 2010]. We believe that our new approach proposed here can be potentially applied to resolve many other general non-Lipschitz forward-backward stochastic differential equations (FBSDEs) encountered in economics and finance, especially in the presence of generic utility functions.

Germination, growth, and secondary compounds accumulation of 5 introduced artichoke cultivars (Cynara scolymus L.) cultivated in Lam Dong province

The results from a study on the evaluation of 5 introduced artichoke cultivars, including Green Globe - USA, Violet de Provence - Germany, Chenopodiaceae - Israel, Cardon Blanc Ivoire AB - France, and Artichaut Imperial Star - France cultivated in Da Lat, Lam Dong province showed that all of them have simultaneously bloomed in 7 months after planting, good health, and well resisted to main insects and diseases, equivalent to local one coded A85. Cardon Blanc Ivoire AB and Green Globe cultivars were considered to be better in terms of germinating ratio (more than 70.0%, as high as A85) and flower productivity. The introduced cultivars were diversified in both composition and antioxidant content in flowers presented by a significantly higher concentration of anti-oxidant substances in flowers analysed by HPLC compared to the control. The results of this study should be of good information used in the selection of varieties to improve the yield and quality of artichoke in Vietnam.

Differential response of pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes to iron deficiency in relation to the growth, rhizosphere acidification and ferric chelate reductase activities

Calcareous soils are known problematic lands for agricultural systems because of the low availability of nutrients, particularly iron (Fe). The so-called strategy I plant (e. g. Pea, Pisum sativum L.) which groups dicotyledons and monocots other than grasses, developed root membrane activities that contribute to the improvement of Fe availability. Among the functions considered to be a critical phase in iron absorption is rhizosphere acidification by H-ATPase and Fe(III) reduced by Fe(III) chelate reducctase (FeCR). In order to experimentally investigate the importance of root FeCR in Fe nutrition, its relationship with rhizosphere acidification and the genotypic differences in response to iron deficiency in pea (Pisum sativum L.), a glasshouse experiment was conducted hydroponically on four genotypes Merveille de Kelvedon (MK); Lincoln (Lin); Douce de Provence (DP) and Alexandra (Alex). Plants of each genotype were distributed into two plots, the first one received full nutrient solution (+ Fe), the second one received nutrient solution devoid of iron (- Fe). Plant growth, Fe distribution, SPAD index and root acidification and ferric chelate reductase activities were evaluated. Fe deficiency decreased plant growth and SPAD index along with the significant increase of H-ATPase and FeCR activities. Some genotypic differences were observed as follows; Alex showed high tolerance to Fe deprivation as compared to other genotypes. Important H-ATPase and FeCR activities, high Fe use efficiency and adequate membrane efficiency are the main reasons for this tolerance. These physiological parameters could be used as tools of tolerance for further breeding programs

Ferulic acid content variation from wheat to bread.

The health‐promoting effects of whole‐grain consumption have been attributed in a large part to the phytochemical profile of the wheat grain, and particularly to the bioactive molecules present in bran. This study shed light on the impact of human practices, especially harvesting sites (terroirs) and wheat species and varieties, as well as bread‐making conditions on the variation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial ferulic acid (FA) content. FA concentration in the bran of wheat species (durum and bread wheat) and varieties (Chevalier, Renan, Redon, Saint Priest le vernois rouge, Bladette de Provence, Pireneo, Rouge de Bordeaux, LA1823, Claudio et Bidi17) harvested in five sites in France on 2015 and 2017, has been evaluated. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in FA content for wheat varieties and terroirs. During bread making, baking and type of leaven impacted the FA content of dough and bread. The differences were not due to the type of fermentation (sourdough/commercial yeast) but rather to the diversity of fermenting microbial strains and flour used for backslopping.

Estimation of Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of VNREDSat-1 satellite for image quality assessment by using the permanent test site

MTF is a factor in evaluating image quality with respect to the contrast and sharpness of the payload, thus directly related to spatial resolution. Therefore, ensuring image quality is an important task, especially for small satellites with high spatial resolution. This study uses the slanted-edge method for the artificial permanent test site and VNREDSat-1 image data with spatial resolution of panchromatic band as 2.5 m to make an MTF value estimate. The MTF value during 5 years of operation averages about 0.2 compared to the threshold as 0.08 (for the test site at Salon de Provence, France, the MTF value ranged from 0.16÷0.27 in across-track direction and 0.16÷0.25 in along-track direction; and at the Buon Ma Thuot test site, these values were 0.16÷0.23 and 0.20÷0.24, the reflectivity of these two test sites are similar), proving that image quality is guaranteed throughout the design life of the satellite; moreover, they are also the basis for Vietnam to finalize regulations on validation and calibration of optical satellite systems in the future when we have own test site.

International Scientific Conference VII Camões Readings

On November 1, 2020 Lomonosov Moscow State University welcomed the participants of Camões Readings for the seventh time – now via video conference. The biennial event was devoted to the history of Portugal, Brazil and the countries of the Portuguese-speaking Africa, political, cultural and social processes taking place in these regions, literature heritage of the authors who wrote in Portuguese and the aspects of the Portuguese linguistics. The event, organized by the MSU Faculty of Philology, saw participants, scholars and researches from such institutions as the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Embassy of Brazil in Moscow, five institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Latin American Studies, Institute of World History, Institute of Linguistics, Gorki Institute of World Literature and Institute for African Studies), MGIMO University, Moscow State Linguistic University, Russian State University for the Humanities, Saint Petersburg State University and the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Foreign speakers from Instituto Camões, Portugal, Université de Provence Aix-Marseille I, France, and other organisations also took part. The contemporary situation in the bilateral Russia‒Brazil dialogue, national and linguistic identity of the Portuguese-speaking regions, linguistic usages, the polyglottism‒ multilinguism dynamics and other topics of high interest were discussed. Among the thirty presentations several were dedicated to the historic landmark of the 45th anniversary of the independence of Angola, Mozambique, Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. The conference concluded with common decision to hold such meetings once a year.

Candied pumpkins – a delicacy with functional properties

Pumpkin vegetables have many functional properties. However, deep processing really supports the lost vitamins and degradation results of phytonutrients. Candied pumpkins suggest minimum processing of a primary produce and represent useful alternative to other types of confectionery. The aim of the work was to improve the technology of production of candied pumpkins with balanced flavor characteristics and higher content of carotenoids. Two types and cultivars of pumpkins were used for production of candied fruit: Muscat De Provence (Cucurbita moschata Duch) and Zhdana (Cucurbita maxima Duch). Candied fruits were made according to a traditional recipe and enriched with flavoring components. Orange and cinnamon which stand out for their valuable chemical composition were also used for improvement of flavor characteristics of the produce. The process flow included the following operations: preparing and chopping pumpkins into pieces; mixing with sugar with simultaneous addition of enriched flavor components; soaking for 8…10 hours; separating the resulted syrup; heating the syrup (t=102±1°С); pouring the hot syrup onto the pieces of pumpkins; cooling (t =35±5°С); separating the syrup; repeated heating and pouring the hot syrup onto the pieces of pumpkins; cooling and separating the syrup; drying the candied fruit (t=45±5°С); adding powdered sugar. In the process of the research with conventional methods the authors determined the general dry solids content, the content of dry soluble substance, pectin substance and sugars, titrated acidity, the content of carotenoids and ascorbic acid. The pumpkin cultivar Muscat De Provence was at a considerable disadvantage with the Zhdana cultivar in the quantity of dry solids and dry soluble substance, though it was remarkable with high content of carotenoids, which is important for the functional purpose of the produce. It is established that the applied technology of making pumpkin candied fruits allows obtaining a high quality product with balanced taste and aromatic characteristics with a high amount of carotenoids and ascorbic acid. The content of dry substance in the finished candied fruit was at 80.02...83.96%. The derived product, depending on a pumpkin cultivar and a recipe, contained from 8.05 to 16.55 mg/100 g carotenoids and up to 10.47...14.86 mg/100 g ascorbic acid.

‘Le Marin de Gibraltar’ de Marguerite Duras: lectures critiques ed. by Joël July, Najet Limam-Tnani

 Reviews du choc’ (throughout the study, due attention is given to such rhetorical features as asyndeton, anaphora, and anacoluthon). is is further promoted by Saint-Simon’s use of an idiolect in which the writer adapts conventional syntax in order to accommodate his exuberant depictions, as well as being fully attentive to their comic dimension. Saint-Simon was also present at, if not involved in, military conflict, and the sustained motif of ‘choc’ extends to the battlefield, on which he comments vividly, albeit as a courtier, and from a safe distance. e study concludes with two emphases: that of the Regency, beginning in , in which Saint-Simon was closely implicated; and that of the firmly anti-Gallican Bull Unigenitus, condemning Jansenism, promulgated in . Both have the virtue of reminding us of the duc et pair’s period of creative activity (the vast scope of his historical reference, his early promotion to his rank, at the age of eighteen, as well as his devotion to Louis XIII, all might tend to lead us to situate him in an earlier period than was in fact the case) and also his profound engagement with the confessional controversies of his age. is is probably not a book for the hardened Saint-Simon specialist; it is, however, a most enticing and insightful study of this vast if frequently intractable corpus of writing. S C’ C, O R P ‘Le Marin de Gibraltar’ de Marguerite Duras: lectures critiques. Ed. by J J and N L-T. Aix-en-Provence: Presses Universitaires de Provence. .  pp. €. ISBN ––. As indicated by Najet Limam-Tnani and Joël July in their Foreword, this volume results from a study day ‘Le Marin de Gibraltar: Lectures réflexives et lectures créatives ’ organized in  by Michèle Cohen, manager of La Non-Maison, an Art Centre in Aix-en-Provence, in collaboration with the CIELAM (Centre interdisciplinaire d’étude des littératures d’Aix-Marseille), and co-ordinated by Limam-Tnani. e event took place three years aer the publication of the first volume of the complete works of Marguerite Duras in the Pléiade, in which Bernard Alazet wrote a seminal notice on Le Marin de Gibraltar referred to by several of the contributors (Œuvres complètes, ed. by Gilles Philippe and others,  vols (Paris: Gallimard, ), , –). e study day was held in order to discuss the peculiar place this novel occupies in Duras’s works: although repudiated several times by its author, it can be seen as a transition text from her first phase of writing to her later more mature texts. is slight, pocket-size volume contains eight articles arranged into three sections . In the first section, ‘Le Marin de Gibraltar: une matrice de l’œuvre de Duras?’, Joëlle Pagès-Pindon identifies elements in Le Marin (Paris: Gallimard, ) that Duras would later develop: the veiled biographical aspects of the text, the triangular nature of her concept of desire, and the setting up of her imaginary world, the ‘Durasie’. In a more impressionistic reflection, Catherine Gottesman compares two passages on the creation of the world, one in Le Marin and one in La Pluie d’été MLR, .,   (Paris: P.O.L., ), noting how creation is linked to destruction. e second section is entitled ‘La quête de l’autre’. In fact, Liman-Tnani shows how in Le Marin, Duras continues the denunciation of colonialism undertaken in Un barrage contre le Pacifique (Paris: Gallimard, ), resolutely turning her back on the pro-colonialist, propagandist L’Empire français that she had co-written with Philippe Roques in  (Paris: Gallimard). Covering known ground, André Not shows the various forms, including different literary models, that the quest for the ‘sailor’ takes. e next section, ‘La langue du Marin et l’idiolecte durassien’, is the most interesting and original. Sandrine Vaudrey-Luigi demonstrates how Le Marin constituted a space for experiments. In particular, she juxtaposes in an illuminating way two passages, one from Le Marin and one from L’Amant (Paris: Minuit, ), to show that the ‘débordements phrastiques surlignés syntaxiquement’ (p. ), normally thought to have been discovered in the later text, actually date back to...