This collection of essays considers the political, social, literary and artistic impact of the pervasive dichotomy of truth and lies in the context of French society and culture. A fundamental element of our social existance, the notion of le mensonge underpins how we participate in and respond to all aspects of society, from the political process to the capacity of art, literature and other aesthetic forms to fulfill a representative function. This book explores the ways in which French society and culture is regulated by the overriding oppositional structure of truth and lies, and the...