This is a first, a giant dictation is scheduled for the beginning of June, in Alès, in the Tempéras arenas. It is free, open to all and will be read by the famous Rachid Santaki, journalist and novelist who has become “Mr. Dictation” over the years. It is already possible to register. Presentation with the initiator of this meeting, the Alésien Joël Baptiste.
Take your pens! In the Gard, the next edition of the Alesian literary festival Les Passeurs de livres (1) will have the particularity of including in its program a giant dictation, organized by Voyages culturelle. Joël Baptiste, the president of this association, was associated last year with a similar event which attracted around 250 people to the Lunel arenas, and fell under its spell. So he wanted to import the concept to the foot of the Cévennes, especially since “It fits well with Cultural Travel”which promotes reading to as many people as possible through its actions.
Joël Baptiste has been working on this dictation for a month and if, initially, he wanted it to take place over a weekend, he was agreed with the City to have it held during the first day of Les Passeurs de livres, i.e. Thursday, June 4. And like in Hérault, it will be in arenas! Those of Tempéras, in this case, at 2 p.m. “It’s a nice setting.”he believes. “It’s a place that must be exploited…” He, who is counting on the participation of 300 people, specifies that registrations are already open (2).
If the text of this dictation has not yet been chosen, it will revolve around freedom, in reference to the theme of the 2026 opus of the literary festival. “It will be a dictation that rises to a crescendo”points out Joël Baptiste. This is so that the participants are divided into different categories: in general, from schoolchildren to adults.
But who is this famous “Mr. dictation”?
And then, it will be read by a personality, Rachid Santaki. Since 2013, this journalist and novelist, originally from the Paris region and who has become “Mr. Dictation” over the years, has orchestrated gigantic dictations, from the Champs-Élysées to New York, via Port Leucate and London, even involving astronaut Thomas Pesquet when he was on board the international space station. ISS. “I met him during Lunel’s dictation”confides the president of Cultural Travel. “On a mangé ensemble et on a sympathisé.”
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