Maurice Genevoix
Maurice Genevoix was a prominent French writer born on November 29, 1890, in the Loire Valley. He pursued his education at the prestigious Ecole Normale Supérieure before his studies were interrupted by World War I, where he served in the military and was severely wounded in 1915. His experiences during the war deeply influenced his writing, leading him to become a voice for the fallen soldiers he felt compelled to represent. His acclaimed series of novels, *Ceux de 14*, which reflects the realities of soldier life in World War I, won him the Goncourt Prize in 1925 and resonated strongly with French readers, particularly veterans. In addition to his war-themed works, Genevoix wrote about his travels in Europe and Canada, as well as children's literature. He married Suzanne Neyrolles in 1943, and they had a daughter, Sylvie, in 1944. Genevoix was elected to the French Academy in 1945 and served as its perpetual secretary from 1958 until 1973. He passed away on September 8, 1980, leaving a legacy as a humble and respected figure in French literature.
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Subject Terms
Maurice Genevoix
Fiction and Nonfiction Writer
- Born: November 29, 1890
- Birthplace: Decize, Nièvre, France
- Died: September 8, 1980
Biography
Maurice Genevoix was born in the Loire Valley of France on November 29, 1890. He attended high school in Orléans. After a year of military service, he was admitted to the Ecole Normale Supérieure in 1912. The school was, and still is, the most prestigious university in France for the education of professors in the humanities. In 1914, however, World War I began and Genevoix returned to military service. He was severely wounded in battle in April, 1915. After spending seven months in a military hospital in Verdun, he was released from the French Army and was seriously disabled.
According to his autobiography Jeux de glaces (1961), Genevoix concluded his life had been spared so he could become a voice for his comrades who had died during World War I. While he was recovering from his severe wounds—first in a military hospital and then at home for five years—Genevoix concluded his disability prevented him from practicing any career except writing. He abandoned the idea of teaching, and he began writing novels about the experiences of soldiers on both sides who fought in World War I. French readers, especially veterans, viewed his novels as an authentic witness to the sacrifices of millions of soldiers. His five novels that form the series Ceux de 14 were so well received in France that he was awarded the prestigious Goncourt Prize for the series in 1925. He also became famous for the books he wrote about his travels through Europe and Canada, and he even wrote several popular books for children.
Genevoix married late in life. In 1943, he married Suzanne Neyrolles, and their daughter, Sylvie, was born in 1944. Two years later, he was elected to the French Academy and he served as its perpetual secretary from 1958 to 1973. He was a greatly admired and humble French writer who died on September 8, 1980, at the age of eighty-nine.