March
16, 1998
									Contact:
Charlotte Crystal
										    (804)
924-6858


	MARCH 20 IS THE WORLD DAY OF FRANCOPHONIE

	Lovers of French food, French language and French culture will
be celebrating the World Day of Francophonie on Friday, March 20. 
	The University of Virginia's French department and the Alliance
Fran¨aise de Charlottesville have organized several activities this
week to acknowledge French contributions to world culture. They include
daily radio interviews with French-speaking area residents who will
discuss the benefits that knowledge of French has brought them. The
winners of an Alliance Francaise National Essay Contest will be
announced this week as well.
	Among the events planned for Friday, March 20, and open to the
public and University community:

	* Jean Fallon, a professor at Hollins College, will give a talk
titled "Lost Voices: The Mystery Sonnet of 1577." Fallon will discuss
her research on the events surrounding a sonnet written by Pierre de
Ronsard in 1577 that describes a violent domestic dispute during which a
pregnant woman's throat is slit by her husband. 2 p.m. The Rotunda,
Lower West Oval Room.

	* Catherine Hermary-Vielle, French author, will discuss with
Lazare Paupert, cultural attache at the French Embassy in Washington,
"Will an American Bestseller Become a French Bestseller?" Afterward,
Hermary-Vielle will sign copies of her latest book, "L'Ange noir." Wine
and cheese tasting. 6 p.m., New Dominion Bookshop.

	* Michael Parent, an internationally renowned storyteller, will
sing songs from Quebec. Omni Hotel, Preston Two Room. Cash bar. 9 p.m. 

	Also, Thomas Jefferson, as interpreted by Rob Coles, a
descendant of Jefferson, will make an appearance at a dinner at the Omni
Hotel's Preston Point Room. $50 per person includes wine and dessert. 8
p.m. Call in advance for reservations to the Alliance Fran¨aise,
(804) 973-8268.

###

	For more information, call Andrˇe King, president of the
Alliance Fran¨aise de Charlottesville, at (804) 973-8268, or Mary
McKinley, French department chair, (804) 924-4632. Television reporters
should call the University's TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.

U.Va. news online: http://www.virginia.edu/topnews