French Calais jungle narratives or the emergence of a new form of engaged literature

The following article is about a certain kind of contemporary French narrative, that is the so-called Calais Jungle Narratives, which I define to be fictional narrative works dealing with the unofficial refugee camp in Calais, northern France. First, I will present the idea of a new form of engaged literature distinct from traditional 'littérature engagée' and the circumstances of the irregular migrant camp in Calais and its media significance. Subsequently, selected examples of Calais Jungle Narratives such as "Les nouvelles de la Jungle (de Calais)" (2017) by Lisa Mandel and Yasmine Bouagga, "Entre deux mondes" (2017) by Olivier Norek and "Une fille dans la jungle" (2017) by Delphine Coulin will demonstrate that quick-response literature uses various narrative strategies in order to link fact and fiction, poetic value and social commitment. Furthermore, I will show that literary quick-response writing does not necessarily equate with aesthetic weakness, nor is it of contingent and ephemeral literary value.