A modernized version, but deemed too adult of the tale “Beauty and the Beast” hit the French national education, which canceled an order of 800,000 illustrated pounds intended for primary students, denounced the author on Wednesday.
This author, Jul, known as the screenwriter of Lucky Luke or designer of “Silex and the City”, deplored a “political decision” of “censorship”, for “fallacious pretexts” according to him. The original text is preserved, it only illustrated it.
Julien Berjeaux, his real name, had been chosen for the annual operation “a book for the holidays”, thanks to which 800,000 CM2 students from 10 to 11 years old obtain a classic of French literature revisited. He illustrated “Beauty and the Beast”, a traditional tale in the version of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756.
A drunk king singing from Sardou
When the father of the beautiful drinks “a few wine”, Jul represents it drunk, a bottle in hand, singing “Les Lacs du Connerama” by Michel Sardou. Mobile phones and social networks are also very present over the 80 pages.
This version did not seem adapted to the ministry, which explained it to the author in a letter dated Monday, signed by the Director General of School Education, Caroline Pascal. “The finalized work”, according to her, does not allow “a reading in autonomy, at home, with family and without the support of teachers for students aged 10 to 11”, and “could arouse a number of questions among students who do not necessarily find an adapted answer. Indeed, the two illustrations of the book address themes that would suit older students, at the end of the college or at the start of the high school, such as alcohol, social networks, or even complex social realities, “she adds.
According to Jul, the problem is elsewhere. “The fallacious and partly false pretexts invoked to justify censorship do not hold a second in the examination of the book in question, playful, tender and magical,” he wrote in a statement. “The only explanation seems to seek in the disgust of seeing a world of princes and princesses which looks a little more like that of today’s schoolchildren,” says the author. Is the great replacement of blond princesses by young Mediterranean girls would he be the limit not to be crossed for the Versaillaise administration of the ministry? ”He wonders.
Elisabeth borne preface, but backs up
The paradox is that the book obviously pleased the minister’s office, Elisabeth Borne. This one writes in preface: “You will discover in this version, drawn for you, the malicious touch and the sharp look of Jul, which instill in this tale a new modernity.”
But she reacted this Thursday morning by giving reason to the director of teaching. “Jul has a lot of talent, he handles irony, the second degree. But without educational support, I think it is not suitable. But it is a very beautiful book that can be used in another setting, ”commented Elisabeth Borne on CNews/Europe 1.
“The money has not been spent, the books were not drawn. It is certainly an interesting work, but not for this educational framework, “concluded Ms. Borne, who clarified did not” ultimately have prefaced “this work.
The budget for the operation “A book for the holidays”, launched in 2018 with the Fontaine fables and renewed each year since, is not known. The books were to be published by the subsidiary edition of the Reunion of the National Museums-Grand Palais. According to the author, the cancellation took place “the day before the launch of the printing”. The necessary deadlines may not allow the CM2 of 2025 to receive another book.
The letter from Ms. Pascal recalls that the ministry had issued “reservations” before first illustrations which had been submitted to him in December. But in a commentary on this letter, transmitted to AFP, Jul indicates on the contrary that “the elements which raised criticism were taken into account”.
