Hervé Bazin
Encyclopedia
Hervé Bazin (April 17, 1911, Angers
, Maine-et-Loire
- February 17, 1996, Angers) was a French writer, whose best-known novels covered semi-autobiographical topics of teenage rebellion and dysfunctional families.
During fifteen years of writing poetry with little success, Bazin worked in lots of small jobs. Notable work of this period include a poetic review in 1946, la Coquille (The Shell, only eight volumes), and "À la poursuite d'Iris" in 1948. He won the 1947 Prix Apollinaire for Jour, his first book of poetry.
Following the advice of Paul Valéry
, he left poetry to focus on prose.
Childhood conflicts with his mother inspired the novel Viper in the Fist
in 1948. The novel portrays the hatred between a mother nicknamed Folcoche (from the French "folle" (crazy) and "cochonne" (pig) and her children, including the narrator Jean Rezeau, called "Brasse-bouillon". Maurice Nadeau
described the novel as "Atrides in duffle-coat" . The book was immensely successful in postwar
France, and was followed by La Mort du Petit Cheval and Le Cri de la Chouette to create a trilogy. In other works, Bazin returned to the theme of the family. In addition to novels, he also wrote short stories and essays.
Hervé Bazin became a member of the Académie Goncourt
in 1958, replacing Francis Carco
. He became its president in 1973, and was replaced, after his death, by Jorge Semprún
, while the presidency was given to François Nourissier
.
Politically, Hervé Bazin belonged to the Mouvement de la Paix
, in relation with the communist party
of which he was a sympathizer. He obtained the Lenin Peace Prize
in 1979. This made Roger Peyrefitte
say jokingly: "Hervé Bazin had two prize which fitted each other: the Lenin Peace Prize and the black humour prize."
In 1995, he gave his manuscripts and letters to the record office of the town of Nancy, which already owned the fund of the Goncourt
brothers, who originated from the town. Due to a juridicial imbroglio, the six children of his first marriages obtained, against the will of his last spouse and last son, the auction of the fund at the Hôtel Drouot
on 29 October 2004. With help from the district's authorities, the university library of Angers managed to preempt almost the whole of the estate, meaning 22 manuscripts and about 9000 letters which were made available to the research community, as the author wished.
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
, Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire is a department in west-central France, in the Pays de la Loire region.- History :Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791....
- February 17, 1996, Angers) was a French writer, whose best-known novels covered semi-autobiographical topics of teenage rebellion and dysfunctional families.
Biography
Bazin had a difficult childhood living in a bigoted bourgeois family. He opposed his authoritarian mother, ran away several times during his teens, and refused Catholic teachings. At the age of 20 he broke up with his family.During fifteen years of writing poetry with little success, Bazin worked in lots of small jobs. Notable work of this period include a poetic review in 1946, la Coquille (The Shell, only eight volumes), and "À la poursuite d'Iris" in 1948. He won the 1947 Prix Apollinaire for Jour, his first book of poetry.
Following the advice of Paul Valéry
Paul Valéry
Ambroise-Paul-Toussaint-Jules Valéry was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. His interests were sufficiently broad that he can be classified as a polymath...
, he left poetry to focus on prose.
Childhood conflicts with his mother inspired the novel Viper in the Fist
Viper in the Fist
Viper in the Fist is a novel by Hervé Bazin.It is the first and best known of a trilogy, the rest being La Mort du Petit Cheval and Le Cri de la Chouette. These three novels are largely autobiographical....
in 1948. The novel portrays the hatred between a mother nicknamed Folcoche (from the French "folle" (crazy) and "cochonne" (pig) and her children, including the narrator Jean Rezeau, called "Brasse-bouillon". Maurice Nadeau
Maurice Nadeau
Maurice Nadeau is a French writer and editor. He was born in Paris. One of his well-known works, translated into several languages, is the Histoire du surréalisme , published in French in 1944 and in English 21 years later, translated by Richard Howard. Nadeau turned 100 in May 2011.- External...
described the novel as "Atrides in duffle-coat" . The book was immensely successful in postwar
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
France, and was followed by La Mort du Petit Cheval and Le Cri de la Chouette to create a trilogy. In other works, Bazin returned to the theme of the family. In addition to novels, he also wrote short stories and essays.
Hervé Bazin became a member of the Académie Goncourt
Académie Goncourt
The Société littéraire des Goncourt , usually called the académie Goncourt , is a French literary organization based in Paris. It was founded by the French writer and publisher Edmond de Goncourt...
in 1958, replacing Francis Carco
Francis Carco
Francis Carco was a French author, born at Nouméa, New Caledonia. He was a poet, belonging to the Fantaisiste school, a novelist, a dramatist, and art critic for L'Homme libre and Gil Blas. During the War he became aviation pilot at Étampes, after studying at the aviation school there...
. He became its president in 1973, and was replaced, after his death, by Jorge Semprún
Jorge Semprún
Jorge Semprún Maura was a Spanish writer and politician who lived in France most of his life and wrote primarily in French. From 1953 to 1962, during the era of Francisco Franco, Semprún lived clandestinely in Spain working as an organizer for the exiled Communist Party of Spain, but was expelled...
, while the presidency was given to François Nourissier
François Nourissier
François Nourissier was a French journalist and writer.Nourissier was the secretary-general of Éditions Denoël , editor of the review La Parisienne , and an adviser with the Éditions Grasset Paris publishing house .In 1970, he won the Prix Femina for his book La crève...
.
Politically, Hervé Bazin belonged to the Mouvement de la Paix
Mouvement de la Paix
The Mouvement de la Paix is an organisation which promotes a culture of peace initiated by the United Nations. The movement was created in the aftermath of the Second World War by the large resistance movements, particularly those associated with communists, Christians and free-thinkers, and was...
, in relation with the communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
of which he was a sympathizer. He obtained the Lenin Peace Prize
Lenin Peace Prize
The International Lenin Peace Prize was the Soviet Union's equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize, named in honor of Vladimir Lenin. It was awarded by a panel appointed by the Soviet government, to notable individuals whom the panel indicated had "strengthened peace among peoples"...
in 1979. This made Roger Peyrefitte
Roger Peyrefitte
Roger Peyrefitte was a French diplomat, writer of bestseller novels and gossipy non-fiction, and a defender of gay rights.-Life and work:...
say jokingly: "Hervé Bazin had two prize which fitted each other: the Lenin Peace Prize and the black humour prize."
In 1995, he gave his manuscripts and letters to the record office of the town of Nancy, which already owned the fund of the Goncourt
Goncourt
Goncourt is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France....
brothers, who originated from the town. Due to a juridicial imbroglio, the six children of his first marriages obtained, against the will of his last spouse and last son, the auction of the fund at the Hôtel Drouot
Hôtel Drouot
Hôtel Drouot is a large auction house in Paris, known for fine art, antiques, and antiquities. It consists of 16 halls hosting 70 independent auction firms, which operate under the umbrella grouping of Drouot....
on 29 October 2004. With help from the district's authorities, the university library of Angers managed to preempt almost the whole of the estate, meaning 22 manuscripts and about 9000 letters which were made available to the research community, as the author wished.
Published works
- Jour, poems, 1947
- A la poursuite d'Iris, poems, 1948
- Vipère au poing (Viper in the FistViper in the FistViper in the Fist is a novel by Hervé Bazin.It is the first and best known of a trilogy, the rest being La Mort du Petit Cheval and Le Cri de la Chouette. These three novels are largely autobiographical....
), autobiographical novel, 1948 - La Tête contre les mursLa Tête contre les mursHead Against the Wall is a 1958 French drama film directed by Georges Franju and starring Pierre Brasseur, Paul Meurisse, and Jean-Pierre Mocky. The story follows Francois who is institutionalized by Marbeau for daring to defy his wealthy father. Francois' verges of insanity during his...
, novel, écrit d'août 1948 à fév. 1949, publié en 1949 - La Mort du petit cheval, autobiographical novel, sequel to "Vipère au poing", écrit de déc. 1949 à août 1950, publié en 1950
- Le bureau des mariages, short stories, 1951
- Lève-toi et marche, novel, écrit en 1951, publié en 1952
- Humeurs, poems, 1953
- Contre vents et marées, 1953
- L'Huile sur le feu, novel, écrit d'oct. 1953 à fév. 1954, publié en 1954
- Qui j'ose aimer, novel, écrit de nov. 1955 à oct. 1956, publié en 1956
- La fin des asiles, essay, 1959
- Au nom du fils, novel, écrit d'avril 1959 à sept. 1960, publié en 1960
- Chapeau bas, short stories, 1963 : Chapeau bas, Bouc émissaire, La hotte, M. le conseiller du coeur, Souvenirs d'un amnésique, Mansarde à louer, La Clope
- Plumons l'oiseau, essay, 1966
- Le Matrimoine, novel, écrit en 1966, publié en 1967
- Les bienheureux de La Désolation, account, 1970 : the story of the total population evacuation of the island of Tristan da CunhaTristan da CunhaTristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean and the main island of that group. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America...
(also known as "La Désolation") following the 1961 volcanic eruption, their refusal of the consumerist society of England, where they had been resettled, and their iron will to come back to their island and repopulate one of the hardest places to live in the world, and live according to their own ideal. With success. - Le Cri de la chouette, autobiographical novel (sequel to "Vipère au poing" and "La mort du petit cheval"), écrit en 1971, publié en 1972
- Madame Ex, novel, écrit en 1974, publié en 1975
- Traits, 1976
- Ce que je crois, 1977
- Un feu dévore un autre feu, 1978
- L'Église verte, novel, 1981
- Qui est le prince?, 1981
- Abécédaire, 1984
- Le Démon de minuit, 1988
- L'École des pères, novel, 1991
- Le grand méchant doux, 1992
- Le Neuvième jour, 1994
Sources
- Jean-Louis de Rambures, "Comment travaillent les écrivains", Paris 1978 (interview with Hervé Bazin, in French)