About
Maurice Barrès, born in Charmes-sur-Moselle in Lorraine, was a major figure in French literary and political life. He first made his mark with the Culte du Moi trilogy, celebrating individualism, then evolved toward fervent nationalism with Le Roman de l'énergie nationale. Deputy for Nancy then Paris, he was a key player in the Dreyfus Affair and the Ligue des Patriotes. Elected to the Académie française in 1906, he influenced many writers.
* 1862-08-19 — † 1923-12-04
Major works
- Sous l'œil des Barbares (1888)novel
- Un Homme libre (1889)novel
- Le Jardin de Bérénice (1891)novel
- Les Déracinés (1897)novel
- La Colline inspirée (1913)novel
Key milestones
- 1889Elected deputy for Nancy at age 26 as a Boulangist.
- 1906Elected to the Académie française, seat 4.
- 1914Succeeds Paul Déroulède as president of the Ligue des Patriotes.
Themes
IndividualismNationalismRootednessSpiritualityPolitics
Sources: academie-francaise.fr · heritage.bnf.fr · britannica.com