Yves Le Febvre
Encyclopedia
Yves Le Febvre, was a leftist and anticlerical Breton writer and politician.
, Finistère
, he studied law in Rennes
then in Paris
, becoming a Doctor of Law in 1901. A supporter of Alfred Dreyfus
, he resigned from the bar of Paris, and registered with the bar of Morlaix, but practiced only rarely. He later became Justice of the Peace
in Plouescat
, Finistère
. He belonged to the urban middle-class and French-speaking, anticlerical and republican faction, which was organized from 1899 in the Association des Bleus de Bretagne (Association of Breton Blues
).
In March 1900, he created with Charles Brunellière the Socialist Federation of Brittany, at a congress in Nantes
. He became very active as a political journalist in the journal Breton Socialiste which was succeeded by Réveil du Finistère, in which he developed a legislative programme for republican and socialist rural politics.
A freethinking Socialist, he wrote a number of critical studies of the historical myths created by the nationalistic and often reactionary "Breton movement
". These were published as the book La Bretagne agenouillée (Brittany on its Knees). He left the socialist International in 1911 for radicalism and devoted himself thereafter to literature. He is now known primarily for his literary works and journalism, such as the Celtic Tales, the Barbarian Trilogy and especially Land of Priests. He ran the journal Breton Thought from 1913 to 1925.
An official of Court of Appeal at Amiens after World War I
, Yves Le Febvre became president of the Supporters of Morally Abandoned Children of the Somme, becoming very active in the group's role in assisting neglected and criminalised children who were victims of the devastation caused by the war.
Life and work
Born in a middle-class family in MorlaixMorlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
, Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
, he studied law in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
then in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, becoming a Doctor of Law in 1901. A supporter of Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer of Jewish background whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in modern French and European history...
, he resigned from the bar of Paris, and registered with the bar of Morlaix, but practiced only rarely. He later became Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Plouescat
Plouescat
Plouescat is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France. It is a seaside resort, complete with a casino and a large camping and caravanning site, adjacent to its beautiful extensive beach of fine, powdery sand...
, Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
. He belonged to the urban middle-class and French-speaking, anticlerical and republican faction, which was organized from 1899 in the Association des Bleus de Bretagne (Association of Breton Blues
Bleus de Bretagne
The Ligue des bleus de Bretagne was a liberal organisation in Brittany founded in 1899, dedicated to promoting the ideals of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution in Brittany, and combating the influence of the aristocracy and clergy...
).
In March 1900, he created with Charles Brunellière the Socialist Federation of Brittany, at a congress in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
. He became very active as a political journalist in the journal Breton Socialiste which was succeeded by Réveil du Finistère, in which he developed a legislative programme for republican and socialist rural politics.
A freethinking Socialist, he wrote a number of critical studies of the historical myths created by the nationalistic and often reactionary "Breton movement
History of Breton nationalism
The history of Breton nationalism as an organised set of political and cultural movements started during the latter half of the nineteenth century....
". These were published as the book La Bretagne agenouillée (Brittany on its Knees). He left the socialist International in 1911 for radicalism and devoted himself thereafter to literature. He is now known primarily for his literary works and journalism, such as the Celtic Tales, the Barbarian Trilogy and especially Land of Priests. He ran the journal Breton Thought from 1913 to 1925.
An official of Court of Appeal at Amiens after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Yves Le Febvre became president of the Supporters of Morally Abandoned Children of the Somme, becoming very active in the group's role in assisting neglected and criminalised children who were victims of the devastation caused by the war.
Publications
- La Terre des Prêtres (Land of Priests), 1924. Le Febvre expected that this work would scandalize the clergy, but not to the extent that it did, including a long lawsuit and numerous attacks on him. The book contains one of the most vivid descriptions of the Pays de Léon and remains one of rare testimonies of the dominating role which the clergy had in the region.
- Clauda Jégou, paysan de l’Arrée, 1936.