Rachilde in Mercure de France

literary criticism and mediation practices in “Les Romans”

Abstract

In this article, we examine the career and contribution of Rachilde, the writer pseudonym of Marguerite Eymery in the revue Mercure de France at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. We focus particularly on the column “Les Romans,” signed by Rachilde from 1896 onward, which was dedicated to literary criticism. We consider her biography and the impact of her name and writings in other periodicals, and we also discuss her assertions and evaluations, which reveal not only her reflections on the aesthetic aspects of the novel but also her attitudes toward different themes. We present Rachilde’s activity in the literary field, her role as a cultural mediator of the period, and her sociability during the Belle Époque. Finally, we address her involvement in controversies and her opinions about the work of women and journalists operating in a predominantly male environment.