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Terre Humaine

Terre Humaine is a French book collection published by Plon, founded by the ethnologist and explorer Jean Malaurie.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Terre Humaine is a French book collection published by Plon, founded by the ethnologist and explorer Jean Malaurie. It is known for works of anthropology, ethnography, testimony, and related humanistic subjects, and it began in 1955 with Malaurie’s own book on the Inuit, Les derniers rois de Thulé. The collection remains active and has published roughly one hundred titles.

Overview

Terre Humaine is a long-running French book series from Plon associated with anthropology, ethnology, and testimony. It was created by Jean Malaurie and is often described as a major literary and scholarly collection on human cultures and lived experience.

History

The collection was inaugurated in 1955, with Malaurie’s Les derniers rois de Thulé as its first volume. Sources describe it as growing at an average pace of about two books per year and continuing over many decades.

Themes and significance

The series is known for works about Indigenous peoples, marginalized communities, and the relationship between humans, land, and culture. Scholarly sources describe it as a project combining literature, anthropology, and photography.

Publication status

Terre Humaine is still published by Plon, with sources describing the collection as active and having reached around one hundred titles by the late 2020s.

Key facts

  • Terre Humaine is a French editorial collection, not a standalone book or magazine.
  • It was founded by Jean Malaurie in 1955 and opened with his book Les derniers rois de Thulé.
  • Its titles often focus on marginalized peoples, cultures, and firsthand testimony.
  • The series has published roughly one hundred titles and is still active.
  • The name means “human earth” or “human land” in French.
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Canadian context

The collection is relevant to Canadian readers because it includes French-language scholarship and ethnographic writing that overlaps with Indigenous studies, a major field in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Terre Humaine?
Terre Humaine is a French book collection published by Plon, known for anthropology, ethnography, testimony, and humanistic writing.
Who wrote Terre Humaine?
Terre Humaine was founded and developed by Jean Malaurie; it is not a single work by one author. The first volume was written by Malaurie.
Is Terre Humaine a book or a magazine?
Neither. It is a book series, also called a publishing collection.
What is the meaning of Terre Humaine?
In French, it means “human earth” or “human land.”
When was Terre Humaine founded?
It was founded in 1955. Some secondary sources mention 1954 as the date of conception, but 1955 is the year of the collection’s launch.
Is Terre Humaine still published?
Yes. Sources describe it as still active and continuing to add titles.

References

  1. HAL Thèses — https://theses.hal.science/tel-01885561v1/file/COUVIDAT_David_2_va_20170629.pdf
    Supports: Describes Terre Humaine as a collection by Jean Malaurie and summarizes its themes around marginalized peoples and human meaning.
  2. Remate de Males / UNICAMP — https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/remate/article/download/8670935/31721/145504
    Supports: States that the Terre Humaine collection was inaugurated in 1955 with Les derniers rois de Thulé and Tristes tropiques.
  3. OpenEdition Journals — https://journals.openedition.org/fixxion/1538?lang=en
    Supports: Says Terre Humaine was founded in 1955 by Jean Malaurie and describes its editorial and anthropological aims.
  4. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terre_humaine
    Supports: States that Terre humaine is a French book series at Plon founded by Jean Malaurie in 1954/1955 and still active.
  5. French-language Wikipedia mirror — https://cs.frwiki.wiki/wiki/Collection_Terre_humaine
    Supports: Describes Terre Humaine as a collection at Plon created by Jean Malaurie and opened in 1955.