LONG-FORM INTERVIEW, Ivan Garcia | Last March, Pascal Vandenberghe, CEO of Payot bookstores, published *Le Funambule du livre*, followed by *La librairie est un sport de combat*, both with Editions de L’Aire. The book, divided into two parts (a long interview and an essay)—the first of which was reviewed by *Le Regard Libre* in its «Tuesday Books» column—begins by chronicling the professional journey of «Monsieur Payot,» who has worn many hats: mechanic, bookseller at Fnac, publisher, and, since 2004, CEO of Payot SA. In 2014, Pascal Vandenberghe acquired the company from the Lagardère Services group and became CEO of the firm, which encompasses the Payot bookstores and the Nature & Découvertes Suisse chain. Furthermore, the essay «Monsieur Payot» explores the transformations the world of books has undergone over the past forty years through the eyes of a connoisseur. In many ways, Pascal Vandenberghe can be compared to Martin Eden, the hero of one of Jack London’s eponymous novels. An avid reader, our man of the hour is self-taught and has gradually risen to the helm of the largest network of general-interest bookstores in French-speaking Switzerland. To discuss his book, the head of Payot welcomes us to his office in Lausanne—where a portrait of Fritz Payot, the bookstore’s founder, takes pride of place—and talks to us about the role of bookstores in society, the world of books, and the challenges he will soon face.

LONG-FORM ARTICLE, Jonas Follonier | He served as chairman and CEO of the Société de la Feuille d’avis de Lausanne and Imprimeries Réunies SA, and later of Edipresse, a company founded by Paul Allenspach, the publisher of "La Feuille d’avis de Lausanne," which later became "24 heures." Author of the crime novel "La peau de Sharon" (2000) under the pseudonym Ken Wood, he had previously written under another pseudonym, Marc Lacaze. Under this identity, he published short stories and columns in "Le Nouveau Quotidien"—which became "Le Temps" after its merger with "Le Journal de Genève"—and a collection, "Le dessert indien" (1996). But it is under his real name that Marc Lamunière, a leading figure in the French-speaking Swiss press of the 20th century, has just released a book celebrating his 100th birthday, which he marked in early 2021. Conceived as a series of interviews with journalist Jacques Poget, *Le Jardin des piqûres: A Centenarian’s Reflections on His Life, the Past Century, and the Days Ahead* offers us a true philosophy of life, shaped by the author’s own reading. An interview.

Jean-Michel Olivier is the only Swiss author to have won the Prix Interallié. On the occasion of the publication of his new book, «Lucie d'enfer», the Genevan writer shares his vision of literature, and of the femme fatale at the center of this tale.

Interview with filmmaker Franz Böhm

LONG FORM INTERVIEW, Ivan Garcia | In a previous issue, publisher Michel Moret answered my questions about his re-edition of the works of Charles Ferdinand Ramuz. A fruitful encounter that gave rise to further questions. Intrigued by Ramuz and his importance within our country's literature, I wanted to shed further light on this figure by calling on a specialist in his work. Stéphane Pétermann is head of research at the Centre des littératures en Suisse romande and, with Daniel Maggetti, co-editor of the «Petite bibliothèque ramuzienne» collection published by Editions Zoé. He is the author of two academic works on Ramuz: C. F. Ramuz, sentir vivre et battre le mot (PPUR, 2018) and Ramuz, l'écriture comme absolu (Infolio, 2020). Following the reissue of Adam et Eve in the collection he co-directs, Stéphane Pétermann shares his thoughts on his reissue venture, as well as on the «myth» that is Ramuz for French-speaking Switzerland.

Provocative dandy and observer of his times, Quentin Mouron questions progress and decadence in his novels. Meet a lucid writer who dismantles modern illusions without renouncing the beauty of the word.

Thirty-two-year-old Julien Rochedy is a former rising star in French politics. As a member of the Front National, the young Ardéchois achieved his highest responsibilities by becoming Marine Le Pen's political advisor for the 2012 presidential campaign, and then by becoming director of the Front National de la Jeunesse the same year. However, the ideological evolution of Marine Le Pen and the party gradually disgusted him - as he explains in a long-form video posted on his YouTube channel. So, in 2014, Julien Rochedy gave up all political involvement. Today, he is fully committed to metapolitics, where, he says, the aim is to lead the fight on the terrain of ideas. To this end, he publishes books, gives lectures and posts videos on the Internet. It was on the internet, without knowing anything about his political commitment, that I discovered Julien Rochedy before asking him for an interview.

Le Regard Libre N°69 - Ivan Garcia Omar Porras directs the Théâtre Kléber-Méleau in Renens-Malley, a former gasworks...

LONG FORM INTERVIEW, Indra Crittin | If Claire Pommet, aka Pomme, is rightly described as a singer-songwriter, think of her more as a watercolorist. For her latest musical project, her pen - well, her paintbrush - was bathed in a sea of tears, an ocean of uncertainty. What she portrays is based on the transparency of her emotions - a palette of authentic colors. The artist from Lyon shares her lack of self-confidence, her fear of death, and her other experiences in a way that allows us to identify with her, while developing our own interpretation of her work. No wonder her work is minimalist: few layers of paint are needed for the light to reflect. The woman who was deeply influenced by Barbara, the lady in black, and who began to make a name for herself with YouTube covers, now takes us into her poetic world, at once dark and luminous. Her latest travel diary? A (final) reissue of her second album, «Les Failles», voted Album révélation at the 2020 Victoires de la musique awards. A far cry from her first album, which was A peu ce qu'elle voulait, this opus bears witness to her fully assumed artistic choices. Let's chat with this gifted young artist, who desacralizes taboos and writes magnificent love songs.