French Literature Reviews - 2026
B. Fuligni (ed.), Les frasques de la Belle époque. Les plus belles Unes du Petit Journal
History, Politics and Society
Les frasques de la Belle-Epoque - Les plus belles unes du Petit journal
Bruno Fuligni
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/10/12 PUBLISHER: Albin Michel (Editions) ISBN: 978-2-226-20818-7 EAN: 9782226208187 FORMAT: Hardcover NO. OF PAGES: 240 p.
The ogress of La Goutte d'Or, the eruption of Mount Pelée, extraordinary festivities, the conquest of the poles, the invention of the first robots, as well as anarchist attacks and sensational crimes: readers of the Belle Époque were never left with a dull moment, thanks to the unforgettable front pages of the illustrated supplement to their favorite daily newspaper, *Le Petit Journal*, which in 1890 launched the publication of color images, sparking a minor revolution! An extraordinary journey to the heart of the Belle Époque through the 100 most sensational front pages of Le Petit Journal.
Richly colorful and captivating tales!
Biography of Bruno Fuligni
Senior lecturer at Sciences Po and senior civil servant, Bruno Fuligni is the author of fifteen books on the political and criminal history of France. A hunter of curiosities and a regular visitor to secret and hidden archives, he has edited two best-selling collections: Dans les secrets de la police and Dans les archives inédites des services secrets.
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A review dedicated to this book can be read on Alamblog:
During the Third Republic in France, mass-circulation newspapers underwent a significant transformation with the introduction of color illustration supplements, changing how dramatic events, scientific discoveries, and popular culture reached the broader public. Publications like Le Petit Journal combined sensationalism with visual storytelling, documenting everything from technological innovations and polar explorations to high-profile crimes and political violence. This illustrated press played a central role in shaping public imagination and collective memory during a period characterized by rapid modernization, social anxieties, and vibrant cultural production across French society. Bruno Fuligni is the author of fifteen books on the political and criminal history of France. Readers interested in the history of French print culture and the visual representation of news during the Belle Époque may find this volume relevant.