Despite trouble at home: We all need France, says MONOCLE
MONOCLE climbs mountains, boards naval ships, and spends time in workshops, ateliers and bakeries to remind readers why France is one of the world’s most visited countries, an economic powerhouse and, possibly, the last hope for global liberalism.
The France Special of the global affairs and lifestyle magazine – out today, Thursday, 21 February – shines a light on the economic, cultural, sporting, culinary, and design contributions of Brand France, giving airtime to those who keep the country ticking over, despite the politics of the day.
Tyler Brûlé, MONOCLE’s Editor in Chief and Chairman, said: “We decided to press play on the France Special while wandering along the aisles of the Yvon Lambert bookshop in Paris, in late autumn, just after the gilets jaunes had been out in full force. We didn’t want to ignore what’s going on – but shine a line on what is working so well in France, and why the rest of the world needs this unique European soft power.”
MONOCLE Issue 121 - Out Thursday, 21 February 2019
Highlights from the France Special include:
Why the Navy still suits the French – MONOCLE visits Toulon, the first port of call to see the nation's fleet mustering for a world-leading military role.
The gilets jaune are nothing new. Why the French turn on their leaders.
How to seize an opportunity: the Franco-Syrian refugee on the scaffolding company that made his construction company a household name.
Why the Americans are eyeing up Lyon for the future of TV.
Interview: Franco-Moroccan author Leila Slimani on freedom, middle-class violence and her new role promoting Francophone affairs.
Interview: Jean-Michel Jarre, forefather of electronica, on why he spends his nights holed up with a film projector.
How post-war architectural ideas were realised in unassuming Royan.
MONOCLE’s A-Z of the French firms that keep the world’s seventh-largest economy ticking over.
Why Parisians are turning to detectives to track down long lost lovers (rather than catch-out existing ones). A trip to a sleuth's office in Paris.
MONOCLE’s picks of favourite labels, haunts and titles. Are French pharmacies worthy of Unesco status?
Why the falling fortunes of French bread may be back on the rise (thanks to a new generation of bakers turning their backs on mediocre supermarket-bought baguettes).
What makes the nation tick? Guest authors and journalists pen essays for the France Special.
Why Mont Blanc is still summit special: a singular film-shot expedition to understand what makes this French icon endure.
This issue of MONOCLE is the last to be printed in the UK. The country’s handling of its departure from the EU has made a dependable, high-quality solution elsewhere necessary, and from March onwards, MONOCLE will be printed in Germany. Underlining how much the global media brand is centring itself at the heart of continental Europe, MONOCLE is also planning to open an office in Germany, following its new European HQ, which opened in Zürich in the spring of 2018.
Hard copies and the full PDF of the France Special are available to journalists - please get in touch with Daniel Kramb on +44 207 405 7422 or email danielk@fmcm.co.uk
Keep up to date with MONOCLE at monocle.com
About Monocle
Launched in 2007, MONOCLE is a premium media brand offering high-quality journalism across its magazine, web and broadcast divisions. Led by editor in chief Tyler Brûlé, it is the leading edit on global affairs, business, culture and design. MONOCLE’s magazine publishes 10 times a year and is distributed in more than 65 markets, selling more than 84,000 copies per issue.
The media brand also produces three seasonal publications: The Forecast, packed with key insights for the year ahead; The Escapist, a travel-minded summer special; and The Drinking & Dining Directory for the best in hospitality. MONOCLE also curates a round-the-clock radio station, MONOCLE 24; a dynamic website; high-quality films and slideshows; live events; retail and café locations; and a collection of travel books and lifestyle guides, launched in partnership with Berlin publisher Gestalten.
About Tyler Brûlé
Tyler Brûlé is widely considered to be one of the most influential media innovators of his generation. He is the youngest-ever recipient of the British Society of Magazine Editors Lifetime Achievement Award and has been named Ad Age’s editor of the year, an unprecedented award for an international editor.
Brûlé moved from Canada to the UK to pursue his career, working as a reporter for the BBC before turning his hand to print journalism, writing for publications including The Independent, The Sunday Times and Vanity Fair. Brûlé launched award-winning magazine Wallpaper* in 1996, a publishing phenomenon that brought together the worlds of design, architecture, fashion, food and travel in one title for the first time and went on to sell in more than 50 countries. In 2007 he launched MONOCLE, which has grown into a distinctive and much-admired global media brand.
For all media enquires please contact Daniel Kramb and Emma Mitchell at FMcM Associates
on +44 207 405 7422 or email danielk@fmcm.co.uk, emmam@fmcm.co.uk
