About
Jean Paulhan, born in Nîmes in 1884, was a central figure in 20th-century French literary life. After studying philosophy and a stay in Madagascar where he discovered Malagasy oral poetry, he joined the NRF in 1919, becoming its director in 1925. During the Occupation, he was active in the Resistance and helped found Les Lettres françaises and Les Éditions de Minuit. After the war, he revived the NRF and exerted major influence as a reader at Gallimard, discovering many writers. His critical work, notably Les Fleurs de Tarbes, and his autobiographical narratives marked literature. He was elected to the Académie française in 1963.
* 1884-12-02 — † 1968-10-09
Major works
- Le Guerrier appliqué (1917)narrative
- Les Fleurs de Tarbes, ou La Terreur dans les lettres (1941)essay
- Clef de la poésie (1944)essay
- Braque le patron (1945)essay
- La Peinture cubiste (1953)essay
Key milestones
- 1925Becomes director of La Nouvelle Revue française.
- 1941Publishes Les Fleurs de Tarbes, ou La Terreur dans les lettres.
- 1963Elected to the Académie française.
Themes
Literary criticismResistance and commitmentPoetry and languageModern artMemory and experience
Sources: metmuseum.org · oxfordreference.com