René Maran
René Maran was a notable writer from Martinique, recognized primarily for his novel "Batouala," which made history as the first book by a black author to win the prestigious Goncourt Prize in 1921. Born to Guyanese parents, Maran spent his early years in Gabon due to his father's colonial service and later moved to France, where he pursued his education. His career in the French colonial service saw him stationed in Central Africa, specifically in what is now the Central African Republic, where he served as a petty officer responsible for indigenous affairs. This unique perspective significantly influenced his literary work, as he spent years observing and documenting the lives and cultures of various tribal groups.
Maran's writing spans poetry, novels, short stories, and essays, with a focus on African flora, fauna, and the experiences of its native peoples. His use of local dialects and vivid descriptions have drawn both praise and criticism, highlighting the complexities of his relationship with colonialism and his identity. Notably, "Batouala" remains his only work translated into English, and his broader literary contributions include explorations of African legends, customs, and historical figures. Maran's status as a writer embodies a tension between two worlds: the colonial society he served and the cultures he admired, making him a controversial yet significant figure in literature.
On this Page
Subject Terms
René Maran
Martinique-born French novelist
- Born: November 15, 1887
- Birthplace: Fort-de-France, Martinique
- Died: May 8, 1960
- Place of death: Paris, France
Identity: African descent
Biography
René Maran (mah-rahn) was given little attention by the English-speaking world. His chief claim to fame was his Goncourt Prize novel, Batouala, the first book by a black author to be so honored. Maran was born in Martinique of Guyanese parents. After a four-year stay in Gabon, Central Africa, where his father was serving in a colonial post, Maran returned in 1894 to France, where he attended the lycée. He later completed his baccalaureate at Bordeaux, which he thereafter regarded as home.
Like his father, Maran entered the French colonial service. In 1910 he left for Bangui to serve as petty officer in charge of indigenous affairs in the Ubangi-Shari territory of French Equatorial Africa (present-day Central African Republic). The only black Frenchman to hold such a post, Maran served from 1910 to 1925. Maran’s first book of poems, as well as his novels, short stories, and essays, reflect this experience. He stated that he spent six years, off and on, writing his best work by observing the ways of the tribal groups and learning their languages. Some critics felt that he included too much dialect for the average reader; certainly he caught the exotic flavor of the African continent (according to one reviewer, better than anyone has done since Pierre Loti). In his own introduction, Maran sharply questions how much the white man puts the burden on his colored colonials. After winning the Goncourt Prize in 1921, he described flora and fauna of Africa, its native peoples and their problems, and other such matters for a variety of periodicals ranging from Le Monde Illustré to Candide.
Maran’s later books include one on the legends and customs of the Ubangi, the explorations of Scotsman David Livingstone, and the lives of a number of pioneers in Africa, in addition to novels and adventure books describing wild animal life. To date Batouala is the only one of his books translated into English. A writer between two worlds—the one that he wrote about but never identified with, and the other that he loved dearly but which certainly did not fully embrace or claim him—Maran has remained controversial and his literary vision paradoxical.
Bibliography
Carden, Keith. René Maran. Boston: Twayne, 1985. Provides a general criticism of the man, an analysis of his fiction and nonfiction, and an appraisal of the controversial French reception of Batouala.
Cook, Mercer. Five French Negro Authors. Washington, D.C.: The Associated Publishers, 1943. Includes a chapter on Maran, along with notes and bibliography.
Ojo-Ade, Femi. René Maran, the Black Frenchman: A Bio-Critical Study. Washington, D.C.: Three Continents Press, 1984. The only comprehensive critical study of Maran. Bibliography.