ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Nicolas Genka's Censored Novel Republished by Exils

publication · 2026-04-23

In July 1962, Nicolas Genka's novel 'L'Épi monstre' was censored in France. Despite numerous appeals from prominent figures to successive Ministers of the Interior, the ban remained in place until the small publishing house Exils decided to defy the prohibition and republish the long-unavailable book. Genka discusses the paternalistic preface written by Jouhandeau, the second censorship he endured, the resulting hardships, planned translations and foreign publications, and his refusal to publish in France for the time being.

Key facts

  • Nicolas Genka's novel 'L'Épi monstre' was censored in July 1962.
  • Prominent figures appealed to successive Ministers of the Interior to lift the ban.
  • The ban was not lifted until Exils republished the novel.
  • Exils is a small publishing house.
  • Genka criticized the paternalism of Jouhandeau's preface.
  • Genka suffered a second censorship.
  • Genka faced hardships due to the censorship.
  • Genka refused to publish in France for now.

Entities

Artists

  • Nicolas Genka
  • Jouhandeau

Institutions

  • Exils

Locations

  • France

Sources