Esprit Magazine Questions History in May 2026 Issue

The May 2026 issue of French review Esprit poses the question "What to ask of history?" in a dossier edited by director Anne-Lorraine Bujon and historian Emmanuel Laurentin. The issue pays homage to medievalist Marc Bloch, who will be inducted into the Panthéon on June 23, 2026. Laurentin references Bloch's famous work L'Étrange Défaite, published nearly a century ago, and examines why it remains relevant. The dossier explores history's dual role: legitimizing policies and identities while being contested as ideological. Contributors include Cécile Vast, who recounts Bloch's resistance activities, and Michaël Foessel, who argues for a history that avoids rigid national narratives or guilt. Jean-Pierre Chrétien contributes an article on how Bloch helped him understand the history of Rwanda and Burundi. The issue also features musical programming by Maurice Ravel.