We are a pair the gourmet and the neophyte

The authors are not born in the cabbage. Behind them looms the figure of the editor who makes possible the emergence of a work, often directs it and publishes, in the noble sense of the term. What was written without Georges Charpentier Zola, Beckett without Jérôme Lindon or Balzac without Edmond Werdet A work, but whose ambition and the impact had been lower. Xavier de Bartillat belongs to this breed of publishers which can be said that they are also of midwives. The reason is simple: ten years ago, he has been master of Perrin, a beautiful sleeping specializing in the history. At the time of its entry into service, the House had more authors really active. Only a prestigious catalogue to the pediment which shone the names of writers having already done the bulk of their work: André Castelot, Alain Decaux, Philippe Erlanger... Live on the Fund, simply an activity of "rat of library" as he calls himself the reprint The example of Olivier Orban in Plon and its previous experience of school Publisher in Nathan grew rather to restore a stable.

There is not ten minutes that we are sitting in the box of the Mori Venice Bar. Venetian cuisine found in the old good decorated by Philippe Starck a framework agreement with its deeply baroque nature. And already the name of Anthony Rowley arises in the conversation. As the author of A world history of the table. Strategies of mouth was not only "axis intellectual of this renaissance of Perrin": historian of the gastronomic thing, it is also the commensal leading Xavier de Bartillat in culinary transects and verbalizes to the taste of the things. "I appreciate, but it is him who speaks." We are a pair, the gourmet and the neophyte... ", said Xavier de Bartillat. Arguably, the intellectual and the Manager, business historian and professional editor. One brought his knowledge, the other its ability to guarantee the freedom of Perrin, to make possible all editorial adventures. And there were. A lunch face-to-face at the dome with General Aussaresses, the torturer of the battle of Algiers, could be decisive. The military wanted to empty his bag.

War crimes

Xavier de Bartillat had no idea that this would lead to the Foundation for apology for war crimes. He was also, in Plon, the Publisher of the book of the Dr. Gubler, Mitterrand doctor, unique example of book banned the sale of our days. In both cases, no regrets nothing. A sign even reassures him: more than half of the signatories of the petition "Freedom for history" against the proliferation of memory laws are House authors. His foals are not also sulphur. But the greatest success of Perrin, include a lot of foreign academic authors. It took a certain flair to go find as President, after the electoral disaster of 1997, one of Villepin, Napoleon fan and author of a hundred days, his best book. Discern that the banker Jean Christian grandson had like to write a final Louis XVI. Or, conversely, out Nicolas Baverez of his studies of aroniste distinguished for the issue of the bestseller which was large, the France falls.

Xavier de Bartillat attention a little distracted at antipasti racing before him. Gastronomy is not his fort, or rather it is part of this species of guests who exchange was more important than the food. But when Anthony Rowley suggested him to launch a collection of cookbooks, he did not say not. The first emerge this fall in co-publishing with Agnès Viénot, rather original: revenues from canteens reinterpreted by chefs, culinary sum of Joël Robuchon... The kitchen, such as history, refers to a form of rooting. Descendant of an old family noble, but high in the commune of a small village in the Bourbonnais, Xavier de Bartillat cultivates its breeding ground of the French. Stirring the books that speak to us about our country, its place in the world, its past and, therefore, of his future. But also by exploiting the agricultural field acquired in the expensive. With always the concern for profitability that ensures freedom to enjoy this space. "History and modernity, management and creativity are not inconsistent", concludes this man of letters who figures do not fear.

For the Editions Odile Jacob.

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Mori Venice Bar

The Parisian tour experience while Massimo Mori, the Armani Caffe friendly host. On the right, two steps from the stock exchange Bank, he opened a bacarò, as they called the pubs in Venice, for us enjoy the cuisine of the serene: small cicadas of sea accompanied by Endive on the aigre-doux and small crunchy artichokes, the Adriatic Gratin with trévisane salad, scallops gnocchi filled with a mixture of pumpkin-sweet potato and perfumed with truffle andof course, the Venetian, almost caramelised and yet if the basis of calf's liver. One would think is at the Harry's Bar...

Mori Venice Bar, 2, rue du-September 4, 75002 Paris. Tel.: 01 44 55 51 55.