Photo : Alexia de Saint John's
The Midnight Garden: Jean Albany and Joseph Zobel Evening
Discover the profound echoes of the Creole literary tradition through an immersive session focused on the works of Jean Albany and Joseph Zobel. This reading group creates a unique space where poetry and novels serve as powerful lenses to explore themes of social identity and heritage. Whether you are an avid reader or simply curious, come join a collective dialogue that brings these historic voices into our modern-day world.
MVAC (Paris 13th)
About
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the association Les Ponts de l'Espoir hosts a special literary event at the 13th arrondissement's Maison des Associations. As part of the 10th Parisian Week Against Discrimination, the Jardin de Minuit book club focuses on two major figures of the Creole-speaking world: Jean Albany and Joseph Zobel. This session explores their works through readings and group discussions. The event is free but requires prior registration and is open to participants aged 12 and older. No prior reading is needed to enjoy this collective exploration of colonial history and social issues through literature.
Jean Albany & Joseph Zobel
As part of the 10th Paris Week against Discrimination, The Midnight Garden, a book club by the association Les Ponts de l'Espoir (Hope and Bridges), dedicates its eighth meeting to two voices from the Creole-speaking world: Jean Albany for the Indian Ocean and Joseph Zobel for the Caribbean.
Reunion Island poet and painter Jean Albany (1917-1984) published Zamal in 1951 and invented "créolie": a real and inhabited island, far from the exotic postcard paradise.
Martinican author Joseph Zobel (1915-2006) wrote Diab'-la in 1942, a novel about a man who chooses the land and sea over the plantation; the book was banned by Admiral Robert's censorship. This was followed by Black Shack Alley (1950), for which the documentary Joseph Zobel, the child of Black Shack Alley was recently screened at the Kréyol International Film Festival (KIFF).
Two works that speak of the colonial gaze, censorship, social conditions, and language: forms of discrimination that literature identified before the law.
Program
Crossed portraits, read-aloud sessions (poems from Zamal, excerpts from Diab'-la and Black Shack Alley), a participatory reading workshop, and a discussion on the Creole language and its transmission.
Open to all, from seasoned readers to the simply curious. No prior reading is required: the session is an exploration.
Missed the previous session?
Each session stands on its own. You can join the circle at any time. You can also find Alexia's literary reviews of the books already presented on the club website.
Venue for October 15, 2026, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Maison des Associations, MVAC Paris 13, Association Café room
31, rue Bobillot, 75013 Paris / Metro: Place d'Italie
Why The Midnight Garden?
In Creole societies, the "Night Word" carries foundational stories, forbidden questions, and essential transmissions. It is in this suspended hour, between the dog and the rooster, that voices are freed and oral texts reveal themselves.
The Midnight Garden reactivates this oral tradition: a circle where we read together, where every voice counts, and where world literature dialogues with our present.
We thus create a space where discrimination can be named, analyzed, and fought collectively.
Our take on this event
Running from 18:30 to 21:30, the gathering takes place in the Café associative room at the MVAC on 31 rue Bobillot. The program features a comparative study of Réunionese poet Jean Albany and Martinican writer Joseph Zobel. Attendees will engage with excerpts from "Zamal," "Diab'-la," and "La Rue Cases-Nègres" through live readings, a participatory reading workshop, and a dedicated discussion regarding the Creole language and its transmission.
Inspired by the oral tradition of the "night speech" common in Creole societies, the Jardin de Minuit aims to create a space where essential narratives are shared. The session is designed to be inclusive, welcoming both experienced readers and curious newcomers. Since every meeting is self-contained, participants can join the circle regardless of whether they attended previous sessions. This is a unique opportunity to analyze how historical literary works resonate with contemporary conversations on discrimination.
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