Jean-Yves Jouannais : L'Encyclopédie des guerres

"This is called, in all modesty, The Encyclopaedia of War." Session after session, Jean-Yves Jouannais reads from his book, in the process of being written. This illustrated reading, like a kind of pop-up encyclopaedia, is similar to a performance, with each entry being commented live, criticised and rewritten as it goes along.

"Krak" entry: excerpt: "The French built one of their most formidable fortresses at Hosn-el-Akrad forty years later (around 1139). The name has changed little, with Akrad gradually developing into "Krat", then "Krak". In the 20th century, the "Krak des Chevaliers" (Castle of the Knights) with its imposing silhouette still dominates the Plain of Boukaya."Amin Maalouf, Les Croisades vues par les Arabes, published by Jean-Claude Lattès, Paris, 1983.