16 December 2013

The Pont des Arts, Vercors and Cadenas d'Amour

On the left bank of the Pont des Arts is a plaque dedicated to Vercors:
 
'A la mémoire de
VERCORS
(JEAN BRULLER)
CO-FONDATEUR en 1942 des
ÉDITIONS DE MINUIT
avec LE SILENCE DE LA MER
et des
OUVIERS DU LIVRES
Qui par leur dévouement, au péril de leur vie sous l'occupation nazie,
ont permis à la pensée française de maintenir sa permanence et son honneur
1942 – 1992
 
Ce lieu du monde, unique et prestigueux, qui hantait se pensées, nourrissait ses rêves, exaltait son âme: le pont des Arts
              Vercors, La Marche à l'Étoile.'
 
My translation:
 
'In memory of
VERCORS
(JEAN BRULLER)
CO-FOUNDER en 1942 of
ÉDITIONS DE MINUIT
WITH LE SILENCE DE LA MER
and
THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR THE BOOK
Who through their devotion, in peril of their lives under Nazi occupation, allowed French thought to retain its permanence and its honour

1942–1992
 
This place in the world, unique and prestigious, which haunted his thoughts, fed his dreams, exalted his soul: the pont des Arts
                   Vercors, La Marche à l'Étoile'
 
On the bridge itself there are far more cadenas d'amour (love padlocks) than I'd seen on La passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor two years ago:
 
 
 
 

 
And the bouquinistes near the bridge have found a sideline.

Link to my Vercors post, and to my Passerelle Léopold Sédar Senghor post:

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Vercors: Le Silence de la mer (1942)

Passerelle Léopold Sédar Senghor

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