The term "Romand literature" and the role of publishers in the formation of literary life in francophone Switzerland in the 20th century

This dissertation contributes to the studies of Francophone literatures in Czech universities by presenting Swiss French written literature, called "Romand literature" in Switzerland, and explaining the role that Swiss publishers played in the formation of literary life in the second half of the 20th century, precisely from the end of the Second World War to the beginning of the 1980s. The term "Romand literature" is explained in connection with the conception and evolution of other Francophone literatures and their particular emancipation efforts in the 20th century. The answer to the question of what the identity of Romand literature is and how this literature might be defined is found in the process of institutionalization of Romand literature, and here the institution of the publisher is at the center of interest. Other literary institutions - in the sociologic notion of social structures and relations having a relative authority in the defined space and time - such as Romand literary reviews, literary critics and history, universities, and literary awards are presented in relation to the notion of Romand literature and to the institution of a publisher. The dissertation takes into consideration the main events in the evolution of literary institutions in the first half of the 20th century. The..