Degenerative Realism: Novel and Nation in Twenty-First-Century France

Degenerative Realism: Novel and Nation in Twenty-First-Century France (Columbia University Press) by French professor Christy Wampole examines a new trend in best-selling French novels that use the realist genre in a new style she calls “degenerative realism.” These novels represent a range fears— from immigration and demographic change to new technologies and globalization — that often provide the backdrop for the collapse of civilization.

Paw in print

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The February 2026 cover of PAW, featuring a photo of Joseph Nye.
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February 2026

Lives Lived & Lost in 2025, Saying ’yes’ to more housing; AI startup stars