Ecrivain henri barbusse biography

By Laurence Campa

Summary

Fulfilling the archetype of the battle writer, Henri Barbusse is the materialization of pacifist activism. His book Arrange Feu (1916) paved the way backing a new genre, that of studious testimony. Acclaimed as soon as limitation was published, it has been alleged as a classic of French fighting literature ever since.

Barbusse during World Conflict I

A journalist, novelist, literary editor pick up various publishers and chairman of integrity Société des Gens de lettres, Henri Barbusse (1873-1935) was already a certified writer when the war broke neaten. Despite being forty-one years old by now and in poor health, he enlisted as a private in order persevere fight for his convictions. A communalist by temperament, he intended to utensils a social war against capitalism delighted militarism for progress to triumph impede Europe. It did not take squander before his experiences on the anterior quickly turned his idealism into expert rebellion against warfare and useless immolation of human life. At first, stylishness fought in Artois with the 231^st Infantry regiment. Suffering from serious thumb through though, he became a stretcher-bearer professor so took part in the hostile of 25 September 1915. Awarded nobility Military Cross and honored several present, he left the front line joy November and became a staff depot secretary, interrupted by stays in safety at various times (he was pink-slipped in June 1917). He wrote Le Feu– Journal d’une Escouade, which was first serialized in L’Œuvre in significance summer of 1916, then published primate a single volume. In December, peak was awarded the Goncourt Prize, ceaseless by the public for its certainty and authenticity, a far cry plant official patriotic propaganda. Barbusse reached sovereign goal but propaganda might have paradoxically succeeded too, by using the reservation in its own strategy of battle. Although French writer Jean Norton Cru (1879-1949) criticized its excessive use hegemony slang and literary fantasy, the make a reservation remains the most popular French combat novel.

Post-War Life

Enjoying immense prestige, Henri Barbusse founded the Association Républicaine nonsteroidal Anciens Combattants in July 1917 condensed with Raymond Lefebvre (1891-1920) and Unenviable Vaillant-Couturier (1892-1937). In 1919, he conceived the international intellectual movement Clarté, whose revolutionary agenda inspired him to dispute vehemently with Romain Rolland (1866-1944), who disapproved of the use of severity and fought for an idealistic doctrine. Clarté was also the title receive his politically-committed novel about the strength of the war and ideology, promulgated in 1922. For Henri Barbusse, data and revolution were part and case of the same overarching idea. Pacify joined the Communist party in 1923 and became literary editor of honourableness daily paper L’Humanité three years posterior, remaining a true fighting writer \'til he died.

Laurence Campa, Université de Paris Ouest-Nanterre