Interview: Kathy Yandel, author of The French Art of Living Well.

Kathy Yandell is a professor at Carleton College in Minnesota, USA. She teaches courses in French Renaissance literature and culture, contemporary cultural and political issues in France, and French language. She has published articles on writers from Louise Labbe to Montaigne and is the author, editor and co-editor of several books including Carpe Corpus: time and gender in early modern France, Aging in the Renaissanceand Memory and Community in Sixteenth-Century France. In 2019, she was knighted by the French government in the Order of the Academic Palms. When not buried in books, she enjoys dancing, yoga, and flying trapeze. The French art of living well is her first book for a general audience.

Janet Hulstrand: What made you write this book? Was there a particular gap in the vast number of books about France that you wanted to fill? Or was there a particular moment of inspiration that made you want to share the perspective, information, and stories you share in this book?

Kathy Yandell: I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that words joy of life are used in English because we can’t think of a way to fully translate them – so I thought it would be fun to try! The book is an exploration of many aspects of the French concept of “joie de vivre” – something that seems both refreshing and important as we emerge from the pandemic and beyond.

Janet: What drew you to France in the first place? And what has drawn you back again and again over the years?

Kathy: Although I grew up with the sounds of Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Spanish all around me in New Mexico (and loved hearing the different languages), I was drawn to French when a Belgian singer came to town and stayed with our family. We sang ‘Frère Jacques’ together and I realized it was a different song when she sang it – and the words were beautiful in her version. Later I started studying the language and exploring the culture of France… and I was hooked! I return regularly for my fix of all things French, but also for deep friendships.

Janet: What do you like most about the French way of doing things? (And what drives you most crazy about them?)

Kathy: I love the French sense of time – even if their calendars are full, they still have time for a small talk, “un petit café” or a walk. There is a privilege of human relations and of pleasure in everyday life. And what drives me crazy? French administration: filling out paperwork, waiting in lines, dotting and crossing i’s. (Really! It’s absurd sometimes.)

Janet: Do you have a favorite region (or two) in France?

Kathy: I love Paris – its light, its endless discoveries and yes, even its inhabitants (well, a lot of them!). Having been primarily in Paris for the roughly 10 years I have lived in France, my view is limited, although I have spent extended periods in St Etienne, Pau and Souillac. I am inspired by the physical beauty of the Gorges du Tarn, the rocky coastline of Brittany, the vast vineyards near Bordeaux, the foothills of the Pyrenees and the stunning mountain scenery of Haute-Savoie. France has so many different cultures that I would love to explore more of them!

Janet: How about a favorite pastime? It might describe a perfect day in France for you.

Kathy: What a great question! There are many kinds of perfect days, but let’s say a vacation day in the city that doesn’t involve working or serving at the soup kitchen that a friend of mine ran in 19th arrondissement of Paris. My perfect vacation day in Paris would be much longer than 24 hours, for starters. I started the day with a run or a walk around the Luxembourg Gardens (or other outdoor location), followed by breakfast with family or friends – a warm and crispy croissant with Bonne Maman jam, coffee with milk and freshly squeezed orange juice. (I hardly ever drink orange juice in the US, but the fresh orange juice in France is divine – some markets even have orange juicers!) The day will continue with lots of walking, some combination of browsing bookshops, strolling through the gardens of the Musée Rodin , along the Canal Saint Martin, Canal de l’Ourcq or Seine. I love views from above, so the top of Notre Dame (when it’s rebuilt), the Pompidou Center, Montparnasse Tower or Montmartre would be a real treat. Then some girlfriends (friends) and I would go to the hammam (Turkish bath) followed by a Mint flavored tea (Mint tea). After all, my true love and I would have aperitif in an outdoor cafe and watch a movie or a concert of classical or African music. Or maybe we would have a leisurely dinner with friends or dance in Tino Rossi’s garden on the banks of the Seine.

My perfect day in the mountains, say Haute-Savoie, would be walking all day almost non-stop, enjoying the stunning views and returning to Auberge with cleaner or cheese fondue for dinner, with everyone gathered around the fireplace drinking mulled wine, singing and telling stories. (And all of this would include our two daughters if they could be in France on that day.) Thinking about a “favorite day” is a fantastic exercise – thanks!

Janet: One of the things I love about your book is the way you emphasize and appreciate the multicultural aspects of life in France. I find this interesting, especially because it seems to me that many French people seem to struggle to come to terms with multiculturalism. Any thoughts on this (rather sensitive) topic?

Kathy: You are very right – the effects of immigration are a sensitive subject in France with many political dimensions. One of the points I try to make about a diverse society in the book is that the personal can become political: relationships between friends and neighbors of different cultural backgrounds can spill over into larger spheres. My experiences in France would have been significantly scarce if my only friends were of “pure” French descent. When slam artist Grand Corps Malade grew up as a French boy of European descent in a suburb (suburb) populated by immigrants, he makes lifelong friendships. His songs and videos present a model of cross-cultural dialogue and hint that in the future it may be possible to gain a greater understanding and acceptance of differences.

Janet: I also like the wide range of your recommendations for ways to better appreciate the French, from Baudelaire and Montaigne to contemporary rap artists and writers, French television and comics. Who are your favorite contemporary French writers? What about the musicians?

Kathy: I have a long list of favorite authors, but to be brief: I appreciate the richness of language and imagination of Laurent Gaudet, the experimentation of Leila Slimani, and the humor and cultural criticism of Rukiata Ouedraogo (originally from Burkina Faso). Annie Ernot, who recently won the Nobel Prize for Literature, has a toned-down style that isn’t for everyone, but she treats difficult subjects with authenticity and sensitivity. For current popular music in French (not counting classical, jazz or African music) I like Iseult’s haunting song “Corps” (Body) and many songs by Gaël Faye, Soprano, Gims, Stromae and Adèle. I often like what’s danceable, from rap to hip-hop and pop. And I look forward to future discoveries!

The French Art of Living Well was published on May 23, 2023 by Macmillan