About
Romain Rolland, born in Clamecy in 1866, was a French novelist, playwright, essayist, and musicologist. A graduate of the École Normale Supérieure and a doctor in art history, he taught at the École Normale Supérieure and later at the Sorbonne, where he pioneered the study of music history. His major work, Jean-Christophe (1904-1912), a ten-volume novel cycle, earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1915. A committed pacifist, he published Above the Battle in 1915. He also wrote biographies of Beethoven, Michelangelo, and Tolstoy, and was deeply interested in Indian philosophy. He died in Vézelay in 1944.
* 1866-01-28 — † 1944-12-28
Major works
- Jean-Christophe (1904-1912)novel cycle
- Au-dessus de la mêlée (1915)essay
- Vie de Beethoven (1903)biography
- Vie de Tolstoï (1911)biography
- L'Âme enchantée (1922-1933)novel cycle
Key milestones
- 1915Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work, particularly Jean-Christophe.
- 1915Publishes the pacifist pamphlet Above the Battle, calling for Franco-German reconciliation.
- 1923Founds the international literary review Europe.
Themes
pacifismmusicheroismspiritualityintellectual engagement
Sources: nobelprize.org · britannica.com