France, Anatole

WRITER (FRANCE)
BORN 16 Apr 1844, Paris - DIED 12 Oct 1924, Paris
BIRTH NAME Thibault, Jacques Anatole François
GRAVE LOCATION Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine: Cimetière Ancien, 3 Rue Victor Noir (division 01)

Anatole France was the son of a book dealer. After he was educated in Paris he worked for twenty years in several positions, but he always found time for his writings. Between 1876 and 1890 he was assistant librarian at the Senate.

His first successful novel was "Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard" (1881), for which he receiced a prize from the Académie Française. He published further novels and worked as a literary critic for "Le Temps" from 1888 to 1892. In 1893 his novel on life in eighteenth century France "La Rôtisserie de la Reine Pédauque" was published.

He became a member of the Académie Française in 1896. Between 1896 and 1901 he wrote "Histoire contemporaine", a group of writings with Professor Bergeret as the main character.

France protested against the conviction of Dreyfus and was interested in social questions as well as socialism towards the end of his life. In 1921 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Related persons
• has a connection with Caillavet, Simone de
• was painted by Carrière, Eugène

Images

The grave of Anatole France at Neuilly Cimetière, Paris.
Picture by Androom (27 Aug 2001)

 

Sources
• Culbertson, Judi & Tom Randall, Permanent Parisians, Robson Books, London, 1991


Francell, Fernand

Published: 22 Apr 2007
Last update: 25 Apr 2022