Grand recueil de Chansons et textes drolatiques de salle de garde (French edition)

The Great Collection of Guardroom Songs and Humorous Texts is a unique work that is an integral part of French national folklore. Unlike bawdy songs, the guardroom song has a particular charm, born of hospital traditions that date back to the end of the Middle Ages. At that time, barber surgeons lived in the hospital guardroom, ready to intervene in case of an emergency.

In the early 19th century, the guardroom became a mythical space, a place of cohesion for the on-call team who, day and night, faced suffering, misery, illness, and death. This place, far from being dark, is also a space of life where people sing, laugh, and where humor serves as a shield against adversity.

The guardrooms were frequented by illustrious figures such as Verlaine, Sarah Bernhardt, Maupassant, Musset, and Gautier, all attracted by the unique atmosphere of these places.

The functioning of the guardroom is based on the authority of the Steward, a character with absolute power, elected by his peers. From his majestic chair, the Steward reigns over the place and can sanction any breach of the rules. Here, nothing is taboo: the interns can freely parody their superiors, mock the nurses, the supervisors, as well as the women of ill repute, who are often the target of satires.

The targets of their satires do not stop there. The Clergy, the Gendarmerie, the Nobility, and the Bourgeoisie are not spared, although these young interns often come from these groups.

This collection is primarily aimed at hospital interns and students in medicine or other disciplines, including pharmacy. It will also interest nostalgic individuals of their youth, the curious, and historians eager to explore a lesser-known aspect of French hospital history. The songs and texts are classified by theme, ranging from the grand and small repertoire to humorous texts, including potpourris, hunts, and the ritual songs of the bidoche.

The work is edited by Pierre-Louis Choukroun, a former steward of guardrooms and winner of the Prix Littré 2013 for his book "History of Surgery from Flint to Today." A renowned surgeon, he is a member of several learned medical and surgical societies and vice-president of the European Society of Phlebectomy. He has also patented instruments used in vascular surgery.

The illustrations in this collection are signed by André Patlajean, a former political cartoonist known under the pseudonym Pat. He notably collaborated with several newspapers, including L'Aurore, until the latter was acquired by Le Figaro in 1978.

Product Information:

• Format: Paperback
• EAN13: 9782716315029
• ISBN: 978-2-7163-1502-9
• Publisher: Dauphin
• Publication Date: 21/03/2013
• Collection: History
• Series: Great collection of
• Number of Pages: 288
• Dimensions: 22 x 17 cm
• Weight: 610 g
• Language: French

This Great Collection of Guardroom Songs and Humorous Texts is much more than just a book. It is a true testament to French hospital traditions, an inexhaustible source of stories and anecdotes for history, medicine, and folklore enthusiasts. Do not miss the opportunity to discover or rediscover these texts that have marked generations of interns and doctors.