Roger Grenier (19 September 1919 – 8 November 2017) was a French writer, journalist and radio animator. He was Regent of the
Collège de ’Pataphysique.
Biography
As a youth, Grenier lived in
Pau, where Andrélie opened a shop selling glasses.
During the Second World War, he attended classes taught by
Gaston Bachelard
Gaston Bachelard (; ; 27 June 1884 – 16 October 1962) was a French philosopher. He made contributions in the fields of poetics and the philosophy of science. To the latter, he introduced the concepts of ''epistemological obstacle'' and '' epi ...
at the
Sorbonne
Sorbonne may refer to:
* Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities.
*the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970)
*one of its components or linked institution, ...
while participating in the
French Resistance
The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...
before actively participating in the 1944
liberation of Paris
The liberation of Paris (french: Libération de Paris) was a military battle that took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the German garrison surrendered the French capital on 25 August 1944. Paris had been occupied by Nazi Germ ...
. In his memoir ''Paris ma grand'ville'', Grenier describes being briefly arrested and narrowly avoiding execution by the Occupation forces on the boulevard Saint-Germain. He was only able to escape after an argument in German broke out among his captors. After the Liberation of Paris, he joined
Albert Camus
Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...
at the newspaper ''
Combat
Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
''. Grenier later went on to write for the newspaper ''
France Soir
''France Soir'' ( en, France Evening) was a French newspaper that prospered in physical format during the 1950s and 1960s, reaching a circulation of 1.5 million in the 1950s. It declined rapidly under various owners and was relaunched as a popul ...
''. As a journalist, he followed post-war trials which inspired his first essay in 1949 ''Le Rôle d'accusé''. He left professional journalism in 1964 to assume a position on the editorial board of the prominent French publishing house
Gallimard.
A true man of letters, Grenier was actively involved in many aspects of literary production and criticism. In addition to working as a radio host and a writer for television and cinema, he was a member of the board at Gallimard from 1964 up until his death. Young authors frequently sought out his advice and submitted manuscripts to him for consideration. Grenier was well connected among French authors of his time, such as Joseph Kessel and Albert Camus (whose works Grenier edited after Camus died in 1960), and writers abroad, such as William Faulkner and Yukio Mishimo. His own writing has been recognized by some of the most prominent literary institutions in France. He is recipient of the
Grand prix de l'Académie française in 1985 for his body of work of more than thirty works: novels including the best-sellers ''Le Palais d'hiver'' 1965 and ''
Ciné-roman''
Prix Femina
The Prix Femina is a French literary prize created in 1904 by 22 writers for the magazine '' La Vie heureuse'' (today known as '' Femina''). The prize is decided each year by an exclusively female jury. They reward French-language works written ...
in 1972, as well as essays on Chekov and F. Scott Fitzgerald and memoirs.
He is best known in the United States for his work ''The Difficulty of Being a Dog'' (''Les larmes d'Ulysse''), translated by Alice Kaplan. Until his death, he was writing and a busy conference attendee, speaking about his works, literature, Gallimard, or his friends:
Albert Camus
Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...
, and
Brassaï
Brassaï (; pseudonym of Gyula Halász; 9 September 1899 – 8 July 1984) was a Hungarian–French photographer, sculptor, medalist, writer, and filmmaker who rose to international fame in France in the 20th century. He was one of the numerous H ...
.
Works
* 2011 ''Le palais des livres'', translation by Alice Kaplan, ''Palace of Books'', University of Chicago Press, 2014, . Se
an excerpt
* 2010 ''Dans le secret d'une photo'', translation by Alice Kaplan, ''A Box of Photographs'', University of Chicago Press, 2013, .
* 2008 ''
Tchékhov - Récit d'un inconnu et autres nouvelles'', préface and dossier, « Folio »
* 2007 ''Instantanés'', souvenirs
* 2006 ''Trois années'' after Anton Chekhov's novel, theatre, created in Paris at
Petit Montparnasse
* 2005 ''Andrélie, traits et portraits'',
Mercure de France
The was originally a French gazette and literary magazine first published in the 17th century, but after several incarnations has evolved as a publisher, and is now part of the Éditions Gallimard publishing group.
The gazette was published f ...
* 2003 ''Trois tortues et quelques autres'', Gibraffaro ???
* 2003 ''Une nouvelle pour vous'', novels
* 2001 ''Fidèle au poste''
* 2001 ''Roger Grenier ou le droit de se contredire'', conversation with Danielle Stéphane, La Passe du vent
* 2000 ''Le Veilleur'', novel
* 1998 ''Les Larmes d'Ulysse'', translation by Alice Kaplan, ''The Difficulty of Being a Dog'', University of Chicago Press, 2000, . Se
an excerpt
* 1997 ''Quelqu'un de ce temps-là'', novels
* 1994 ''Trois heures du matin
Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he popularize ...
'', essay
* 1993 ''La Marche turque'', novels
* 1992 ''Regardez la neige qui tombe. Impressions de Tchekhov'', essay,
Prix Novembre Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1997
* 1991 ''Villas anglaises à Pau'', photographs by Anne Garde, éd. Marrimpouey
* 1991 ''Partita'', novel
* 1989 ''
Pascal Pia
Pascal Pia (15 August 1903, Paris – 27 September 1979, Paris), born Pierre Durand, was a French writer, journalist, illustrator and scholar. He also used the pseudonyms Pascal Rose, Pascal Fely and others.
In 1922 he published the erotic ...
ou Le droit au néant'', essay
* 1988 ''Rues, 1934–1988'', photographs by J. Dubois, Nathan
* 1988 ''La Mare'' d'Auteuil, novel
* 1987 ''Albert Camus, soleil et ombre : une biographie intellectuelle'', essay,
Prix Albert Camus
Prix was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1975 by Tommy Hoehn and Jon Tiven. The group ended up primarily as a studio project. Its recordings were produced by Tiven along with former Big Star member Chris Bell, who als ...
, Rééd. 1991, ''Albert Camus'', a cura di Roger Grenier, Milano,Bompiani, 1988. Réed. 1992
* 1987 ''Un guide intime, Prague'', éd. Autrement
* 1987 ''Brassaï'', essay
* 1986 ''Le Pierrot noir'', novel, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1996, ''Another November'', Bison Books, 1998
* 1985 ''Il te faudra quitter Florence'', novel 1985, Rééd. Gallimard, « Folio », 1994
* 1983 ''Oeuvres complètes d'Albert Camus'', two volumes, Club de l'honnête homme
* 1982 ''La Fiancée de Fragonard'', novels
* 1982 ''Album Camus''. Commented iconography,
La Pléiade
La Pléiade () was a group of 16th-century French Renaissance poets whose principal members were Pierre de Ronsard, Joachim du Bellay and Jean-Antoine de Baïf. The name was a reference to another literary group, the original Alexandrian Pleiad ...
* 1980 ''La Follia'', novel
* 1979 ''Un air de famille'', tale
* 1978 ''Iscan'', éd. Horay, coll. « Le Territoire de l'œil »
* 1977 ''La Salle de rédaction'', novels
* 1975 ''Le Miroir des eaux'', Prix de la nouvelle de l'Académie française
* 1972 ''Ciné-roman'',
Prix Femina
The Prix Femina is a French literary prize created in 1904 by 22 writers for the magazine '' La Vie heureuse'' (today known as '' Femina''). The prize is decided each year by an exclusively female jury. They reward French-language works written ...
, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Soleil », 1973 et « Folio », 1995, TV adaptation in 1978
* 1972 ''Une maison place des fêtes'', novels
* 1971 ''Avant une guerre'', novel
* 1971 ''
Claude Roy''
* 1965 ''Le Palais d'hiver'', novel, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1973
* 1961 ''Le Silence'', novels, Rééd. 1984
* 1960 ''La Voie romaine'', novel
* 1958 ''Les Embuscades'', novel, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1980
* 1953 ''
Limelight
Limelight (also known as Drummond light or calcium light)James R. Smith (2004). ''San Francisco's Lost Landmarks'', Quill Driver Books. is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created when ...
. Les Feux de la rampe'', novel after
Charles Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...
's scenario
* 1953 ''Les Monstres'', novel
* 1949 ''Le Rôle d'accusé'', essay
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grenier, Roger
1919 births
2017 deaths
Mass media people from Caen
Writers from Caen
20th-century French dramatists and playwrights
21st-century French dramatists and playwrights
20th-century French journalists
21st-century French journalists
French memoirists
Pataphysicians
Prix Femina winners
Prix Décembre winners
Prix Roger Caillois recipients
Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
20th-century French male writers
21st-century French male writers
French male non-fiction writers