Les Editions du Paquebot: A Cosmopolitan Publishing House Bridging Text and Image

Les Editions du Paquebot, founded by Pablo Lopez with ten friends across France, Spain, the UK, and the US, is a Paris- and Moorea-based independent press that pairs literary texts with original artwork by contemporary artists. Since its first book, "L'Âme oblique" (2010) by Vicente Cervera Salinas, illustrated by Julio Silva, the press has published nearly twenty titles, each featuring a unique collaboration between writer and visual artist. The press avoids the term "illustration," instead fostering a free dialogue between text and image. Recent publications include "Mystère Arkadian," a French translation of Orson Welles's radio play "Man of Mystery" (BBC, 1952), illustrated with reworked film stills from "Mr. Arkadin" (1955). The press also reissues rare works, such as Georges Barral's portrait of Baudelaire and novels by Jean Lorrain and Jules Janin. Co-directors Martine Lemire and Pablo Lopez emphasize the material quality of their books as objects, distinguishing them from digital formats. Each title is accompanied by events—readings and exhibitions—involving authors and artists. The press's catalog includes poetry, novels, and radio scripts, with artists from diverse backgrounds: Hungarian, Polish, Spanish, Argentine, Armenian, Ukrainian, American, Irish, and French. Future projects continue their oceanic and terrestrial odysseys.