About
Jean Giraudoux, born in Bellac in 1882, was a French writer and diplomat. A former student of the École normale supérieure, he taught at Harvard before entering the diplomatic service in 1910. During World War I, he was wounded twice and received the Legion of Honor. Recognized as a novelist with Suzanne and the Pacific (1921) and Siegfried and the Limousin (1922), he turned to theater in 1928, collaborating with Louis Jouvet. His plays, such as The Trojan War Will Not Take Place (1935) and Ondine (1939), blend fantasy and reflection on fate. He died in Paris in 1944.
* 1882-10-28 — † 1944-01-28
Major works
- Suzanne et le Pacifique (1921)novel
- Siegfried et le Limousin (1922)novel
- La Guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu (1935)play
- Ondine (1939)play
- La Folle de Chaillot (1946)play
Key milestones
- 1910Entered the diplomatic service.
- 1915First writer to receive the Legion of Honor during wartime.
- 1928Began his theatrical career with Siegfried, in collaboration with Louis Jouvet.
Themes
Destiny and fatalityFantasy and the marvelousWar and peaceLove and human relationshipsIdentity and memory
Sources: britannica.com · archivesetmanuscrits.bnf.fr