par Sophie Levie
1994, in La Revue des revues no 18
Marguerite Caetani and Commerce : an example of journal patronage
During the summer of 1924 the first issue of Commerce appeared. In 9 years and 29 issues, this thouroughly European journal, despite being financed and directed by an American patron, asserted its difference : no commentary, no criticism, only literary works with a preference for young authors and innovative forms. The founder and patron, Marguerite Caetani wanted her journal to be a « commerce of ideas » without any national or ideological prejudice. Though director of the publication and entirely in charge of its contents, she nevertheless kept in the background, her name never appearing on any cover.
Paul Valéry, Léon Paul-Fargue and Valery Larbaud were the main editors. Never had they been involved to such an extent in a journal and this involvement, this moral and literary guarantee certainly were an advantage for Commerce. Commerce certainly had elitist tendencies, but, nevertheless, Marguerite Caetani had her journal distributed in more than 20 countries.