CThis is the story of a journalist from “Sud Ouest” who one day made a promise to himself. Before he turned 30, he would have written a book. Promise kept. Clément Bouynet will celebrate his 30th birthday in early 2025. His book is called “Périgord. Here and now”, and it was released by Éditions Fanlac in mid-November (1).
“I was tired of reading or reviewing books about Périgord whose authors are not from my generation,” smiles Clément Bouynet. I was born here, I grew up here [NDLR : à Journiac, il nous en voudrait de ne pas citer son cher village]I live here, I work here. I didn't feel less legitimate than them. »
A mutual acquaintance introduced him to the Tardien family, at the head of the Fanlac publishing house, which was looking for new authors. Alice Tardien has recently been at the helm of the company founded by her grandfather Pierre Fanlac. She is also in her thirties, and this is the first book that she will pilot from A to Z. “We moved forward together,” slips the author.
Bright young people
Périgord will be the subject, obvious for the young man deeply attached to his native land. You still have to find an angle of attack, like in a journalistic article. You can't write everything about everything. Here is the prism of age again.
“I was tired of reading or reviewing books about Périgord whose authors are not from my generation”
Certainly, the Dordogne shines thanks to its fat ducks generous with livers and other breasts, its gentle landscapes celebrated by Henry Miller, its cave paintings which inspired René Char and its sublime castles.
But in 2024, this department can (must?) add other lines to its CV, written by brilliant young people: athletes (the Olympic medalist rugby women Camille Grassineau and Carla Neisen, the athlete Yohan Durand, the footballer at the international career Maxence Lacroix…), musicians (Kendji Girac, Tibz, rapper Joysad…), cooks (Antoine Romagné, Nick Honeyman…), the agri-youtuber with 2 million subscribers Jigmé Théaux, the magician Cyril Ayrau, etc.
“Perigord. Here and Now” is Clément Bouynet’s first book.
Stéphane Klein / SO
A lot of entrepreneurs have also chosen this land to launch or take over a distillery, a brewery, a communications agency or a cutting-edge electronics company, to set up as a doctor or as a winegrower.
Without forgetting the second, third or fourth generations of tourist site managers (the Rossillon, Touron, Labarre, Hamelin, Commarque, Guyot, Frances), who are meeting the challenges of the 21st century while watching over their venerable stones.
Roots and buds
Throughout the pages, organized into thematic chapters and abundantly illustrated, we come across all these people and many others. Without erasing what makes up the deep identity of Périgord, from Lascaux to La Félibrée via Jacquou le Croquant. But these roots are only told to better highlight the buds that they are blooming today.
There is no question of all-out youthism or blissful angelism. Medical deserts or the suffering of the agricultural world cannot be avoided.
Clément Bouynet navigates with ease between historical references, lively stories from reports, youthful memories and family or friendly anecdotes. With an originality that journalists rarely allow themselves: writing “I”. Which gives a sensitive and embodied portrait of the department.
Dedications
Clément Bouynet will dedicate his book on Saturday December 7 (morning) at the Bugue Marie et les mots press house and Saturday December 14 (morning) at Marbot, in Périgueux.
(1) 166 pages. 22 euros.
