Lilia Hassaine to Host New Literary Program on France Inter
Lilia Hassaine, a renowned author and former columnist for 'Quotidien' on TMC, is set to host a new literary program on France Inter starting August 31. At 33, Hassaine's passion for literature and writing is well-known, with three acclaimed novels published by Gallimard. France Inter's boss, Adèle Van Reth, praised her as 'cultured, creative, and original,' highlighting her ability to make books accessible to a broad audience. The weekly program will also be co-broadcast on RTBF (Belgium), RTS (Switzerland), and Radio Canada.
A Platform for Authors and Booksellers
The new program, which is yet to be titled, will feature a one-hour segment every Saturday. Each episode will include a forty-minute interview with a guest author, providing insights beyond their latest book. Hassaine aims to spotlight the crucial role of booksellers in France and the partner countries, offering them a platform to share their latest reading recommendations. She also plans to feature a paperback book in each episode to celebrate both contemporary and classic literature.
Hassaine's transition from television to radio marks her first experience as a radio host. Drawing from her background as an author, she intends to ask the questions that writers often don't get to answer, bringing a unique perspective to the interviews. This new format takes inspiration from 'La Livre Francophone,' a program that ended in June after a significant run since 2005. The discontinuation of 'La Livre Francophone' had stirred concern among nearly 400 writers and literary personalities, who expressed their worries in a column in L'Obs.
- Lilia Hassaine left Yann Barthès' talk show in June 2022 to focus entirely on her writing career. Her new role on France Inter is seen as a natural progression, given her deep engagement with literature.
- The program's focus on paperback books is particularly important to Hassaine, as she believes they are more affordable and allow for the discussion of both contemporary and classic works.
- The decision to end 'La Livre Francophone' was met with criticism from the literary community. Emmanuel Khérad, the former host, publicly denounced the decision as 'brutal' and lacking 'editorial reason.'
