Jeanne Carbonnier
Jeanne Carbonnier was a French physician and author born on November 25, 1894, in Paris, France. She graduated from the University of Paris with a doctor of medicine degree in 1920 and went on to practice medicine in New York City. Carbonnier was also an avid traveler, exploring countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Japan, and throughout Europe and the Americas. In addition to her medical career, she wrote three biographies aimed at young adults, all meticulously researched and intended for American readers. Her most notable work, "Congo Explorer: Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, 1852-1905," published in 1960, provides an insightful account of European colonialism and the life of the French explorer who governed the French Congo.
The subsequent biographies, "Above All a Physician: René Théophile Laennec, 1781-1826," and "A Barber-Surgeon: A Life of Ambroise Pare," focus on pioneering figures in medicine, showcasing Carbonnier's ability to integrate her medical knowledge with engaging storytelling. Her writing style is characterized as meticulous and accessible, earning her accolades for conveying complex medical and scientific concepts to a general audience. At the time of her death in 1974, she was working on new research related to Inca civilization and a biography of composer J. B. Lully. Carbonnier's works continue to be valued as important references in their respective fields.
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Jeanne Carbonnier
Writer
- Born: November 25, 1894
- Birthplace: Paris, France
- Died: May 19, 1974
Biography
Jeanne Carbonnier was born in Paris, France, on November 25, 1894. She was educated at the University of Paris, graduating with a doctor of medicine degree in 1920. She later lived and worked in New York City. Carbonnier was a world traveler and visited Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Chile, Japan, Europe, the United States, and Canada.
In addition to practicing medicine, Carbonnier wrote three biographies for young adults. Each book was carefully researched, was about a French subject, and was written in English for American readers. Her best-known book is Congo Explorer: Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, 1852-1905 (1960), a biography of the Frenchman who explored Gabon and the Congo River, founded Brazzaville, and governed the colony of the French Congo. The book won the Boys’ Clubs of America Junior Book Award and is noted for its rich depiction of jungle country and culture, insightful study of European colonialism, and intelligent and readable style.
Her next two biographies, Above All a Physician: René Théophile Laennec, 1781-1826 (1961) and A Barber-Surgeon: A Life of Ambroise Pare, Founder of Modern Surgery (1965), were about physicians, and Carbonnier incorporated her own medical knowledge into these books. Above All a Physician is the story of a doctor at the time of the French Revolution; Laennec, regarded as an important innovator in his field, invented the stethoscope and pioneered the use of objective and precise information in medical diagnosis. Carbonnier’s writing was described as meticulous and honest.
A Barber-Surgeon is set in Renaissance Paris and on the battlefields of France. Pare was trained in the generally accepted surgical methods of the sixteenth century. While working in the field, he developed innovative methods that eliminated many cruel treatments and laid the foundation for modern surgery.
At the time of her death in 1974, Carbonnier was conducting research for a book on Inca civilization. The daughter of two musicians, with a lifelong interest in music, she also was working on a French-language biography of French composer J. B. Lully.
Carbonnier was praised for her ability to convey medical and scientific information to a general audience. She was noted for her choice of biography subjects; intelligent, simple, and straightforward writing style; comprehensive research; and authentic medical information. Carbonnier’s books have retained their value as reference sources. Congo Explorer is still listed as a source on French African exploration, and A Barber-Surgeon continues to be a reference in the history of surgery.