Raymond d’Unienville’s study of the Fourierist press campaign that was conducted in Mauritius between 1846 and 1851 provides us with a rich and hitherto unpublished local source of documentation. However, in spite of the significance of this episode, which the author describes in minute detail, much remains to be said about Fourierism in Mauritius and its place in the history of Fourierism itself. For example, the study neglects to discuss an experimental phalanstery which was created in Mauritius well before the episode in question and which reveals a close link between Désiré Laverdant and Evenor Dupont, the leader of the 1846-1851 campaign. This leads us to conclude that there is scope for a wider study on the Mauritian Fourierists, their links with the École Sociétaire, and the importance of Fourierism in the turbulent social history of the island.

Jean Fornasiero est professeur d’études françaises à l’université d’Adelaide (Australie). Elle s’intéresse à l’histoire des idées au XIXe siècle et à ses rapports avec la littérature, notamment par le biais de l’Ecole sociétaire. Parmi ses travaux récents : "L’Utopie en mouvement", Australian Journal of French Studies, 2006-4 (en codirection avec Thomas Bouchet et John West-Sooby) ; Encountering Terra Australis : The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders (avec P. Monteath et J. West-Sooby, prix Broeze d’histoire maritime, 2005)