Jean-Jacques Greif
Encyclopedia
Jean-Jacques Greif is a French
journalist and writer. He has written for the magazine Marie Claire
for thirty years.
, he taught French
and physics
now and then in a small school. He wrote some articles about science in a magazine for children. His first published opus was a documentary book for children about computers (1986).
From 1988 to 1995, he wrote how-to books about the Macintosh
computer and its software. After more than twenty books in French (two of which aimed specifically at children), he wrote seven in English
under the name Adam Greif. Four books were published by a London
publisher, then three by Peachpit Press in Berkeley.
Greif's first novel for teenagers was published in Paris in 1996. L’École des Loisirs, a leading French publisher of children’s literature, has published sixteen of his books so far. Most of his books tell the story of one central character. Sometimes, it is a famous person: Beethoven, Mozart, Einstein (a book for teenagers and one for adults), Joan of Arc
(a novel and a picture book), Marilyn Monroe
. Sometimes, a not so famous person: his father, his mother, other unknown heroes. His parents belonged to the French Résistance
during World War II
. His mother “vanished” during six months as the Gestapo
kept her in a secret jail. His father, a ladies man, spent that time with another woman—who, later, denounced him to the Germans. He was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp
but survived.
One of Jean-Jacques Greif’s books, Le Ring de la mort, is often read in French high schools as part of Holocaust studies. It has received six awards for children’s literature. It tells the story of Maurice, a very poor Warsaw
Jew who emigrates to France and works hard making leather bags. Being a Jew and also a frail child, he learned to fight for his life in the streets of Warsaw. In Paris, he becomes an amateur boxer
. When the French lose the war and accept to “collaborate” with the Germans, they edict laws that restrict the freedom of Jews. Then they round up most foreign Jews and keep them in camps in France for more than one year before expelling them from the country. The Germans send them “East,” which means Auschwitz. Maurice will spend three years in the camp. The SS guards look for boxers, as they love to stage a fight between a strong newcomer and a dying prisoner. But Maurice does not want to become a killer.
Jean-Jacques Greif’s own translation of this book was published in the United States
in 2006 by Bloomsbury as The Fighter.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
journalist and writer. He has written for the magazine Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
for thirty years.
Biography
In the 80s, while he was writing about education in Marie ClaireMarie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
, he taught French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
now and then in a small school. He wrote some articles about science in a magazine for children. His first published opus was a documentary book for children about computers (1986).
From 1988 to 1995, he wrote how-to books about the Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computer and its software. After more than twenty books in French (two of which aimed specifically at children), he wrote seven in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
under the name Adam Greif. Four books were published by a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
publisher, then three by Peachpit Press in Berkeley.
Greif's first novel for teenagers was published in Paris in 1996. L’École des Loisirs, a leading French publisher of children’s literature, has published sixteen of his books so far. Most of his books tell the story of one central character. Sometimes, it is a famous person: Beethoven, Mozart, Einstein (a book for teenagers and one for adults), Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
(a novel and a picture book), Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
. Sometimes, a not so famous person: his father, his mother, other unknown heroes. His parents belonged to the French Résistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
during World War II
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...
. His mother “vanished” during six months as the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
kept her in a secret jail. His father, a ladies man, spent that time with another woman—who, later, denounced him to the Germans. He was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
but survived.
One of Jean-Jacques Greif’s books, Le Ring de la mort, is often read in French high schools as part of Holocaust studies. It has received six awards for children’s literature. It tells the story of Maurice, a very poor Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
Jew who emigrates to France and works hard making leather bags. Being a Jew and also a frail child, he learned to fight for his life in the streets of Warsaw. In Paris, he becomes an amateur boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. When the French lose the war and accept to “collaborate” with the Germans, they edict laws that restrict the freedom of Jews. Then they round up most foreign Jews and keep them in camps in France for more than one year before expelling them from the country. The Germans send them “East,” which means Auschwitz. Maurice will spend three years in the camp. The SS guards look for boxers, as they love to stage a fight between a strong newcomer and a dying prisoner. But Maurice does not want to become a killer.
Jean-Jacques Greif’s own translation of this book was published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2006 by Bloomsbury as The Fighter.