Today in pulp... a postwar Parisian curio: Collection La Cagoule!

Published by La Bruyère from 1945-1951 Collection La Cagoule was one of many imprints looking to bring back the Roman Policier to French life. It was hard work...

For a start paper rationing was hobbling book publishing across post-war Europe. To make the most of paper availability books could be published in fonts as small as eight point. A magnifying glass was needed to read them...

Writers were also struggling to get to grips with the new post-war world. Did the French still want to read old-fashioned police thrillers after so many years of occupation? Should the war be ignored or should it take centre stage? Publishers experimented with both concepts.

The imprint's name was also problematic. La Cagoule had been the name of a pre-war pro-fascist terror group that tried to bring down The Third Republic. Perhaps a different title for the collection would have been better.

But... it sold. Collection La Cagoule racked up 83 new novels in six years, mostly crime dramas and detective novels with a traditional angle. For many they were a welcome distraction whilst people waited for the Trente Glorieuses to kick in.

Joseph-Louis Sanciaume wrote the bulk of La Cagoule's output: a mix of his pre-war work and his later stories. He would go on to win the Grand Prix du Roman d'Action in 1947.

Cover art was normally by Raymond Ducatez, although later novels replaced this with slightly dull photo covers in an attempt to look more 'modern'.

Are they collectable? Well prices are reasonable, about €40-€60 for a decent edition, but as we all know age has not always been kind to the paper or the dust jackets of post-war pulp novels.

However I do have a soft spot for Roman Policier, and if you feel the same it's certainly something to keep an eye out for next time you're browsing the bouquinistes along the Seine.

More pulp publishers another time...