Figures du hoax litteraire: le cas de Vernon Sullivan

The thesis builds a theory of the literary hoax and draws examples from French, British and Australian literature. It then examines the function of the author through the lens of the literary hoax with the case study of the Vernon Sullivan Affair (France, 1946-1950). Studying the mechanisms of the hoax allows us first and foremost to redefine the function and place of the author. This work sheds new light on post-war fake crime fiction and the status of the author in such a transitional literary period of French Literature, but it also demonstrates the different layers of meaning hidden behind the overlooked concept that is the literary hoax. Ultimately, a new perspective is unveiled on the study of authorial relations and functions.