Covid-19 Ad memoriam : what we remember and what remains

Covid-19

Ad memoriam

What we remember and what remains

What will we remember about the Covid-19 pandemic in France ?

For many of us, this pandemic represented an anthropological rupture, a moment of personal and collective change. It was experienced in a variety of ways by different people, in different contexts, in different countries, and it has left deep scars.

In this book, Laëtitia Atlani-Duault draws on two collections of previously unpublished material. The first contains testimonies from across France, sharing their experiences of life during the pandemic.

The second is a collection of everyday objects that people associate with the pandemic, now housed at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Mucem).

These are complemented by Plantu's cartoons, which were pinned up on the walls of countless public hospitals and will be memorable to all those whom life, or death, brought to these places of care.

These testimonies, objects and drawings draw together memories of the pandemic in France. In the words of its author, « Remembering is a form of counter-gift : symbolic, it is true, but nonetheless a way of saying thank you. And even more, it is a way of recognising the value of the efforts made by all who have managed to hold our society together. »