ANATOLE FRANCE

Joseph Conrad called France′s "prince of prose. " And the soul Brescia, wrote: "Despite all the vagaries of critical fashion, France will always stand next to (J. Bernard) Shaw as a great satirist of our age and with such writers as Rabelais, Moliere and Voltaire, as one of the great French wit" .

Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault was born April 16, 1844 in the center of Paris. Here on the bank of the Seine was a bookstore of his father Francois Noel Thibault. (From the diminutive form of the father′s son Francois occurred nickname - Anatole France. ) It is not surprising that the boy fell in love with a childhood book. Initial education boy was in college, Stanislav, but much more influence on the atmosphere of his bookshop and its visitors. Pages read books opened before him an amazing wealth of thoughts, feelings, knowledge, exciting mystery of past centuries. Bookshop visited by many famous Parisian writers: brothers Goncourts, literary critics, Paul de Saint-Victor, and Jules Zhanon, poets Parnassians . . .

Before becoming a writer of France wrote articles in various encyclopedic dictionaries and reference books, and published a small note in the bibliographic journals and directories that have read only a few amateurs. Many gave Anatole Lemerra work in publishing, where he was a regular reviewer of manuscripts and author of introductions to the books produced, as well as cooperation with the newspaper Le Temps, where he acted as a literary critic.

It has been nearly ten years before France made the first significant literary success by publishing a collection of poems "Golden poem" (1873). Three years later appeared in the light of the dramatic poem "Corinth wedding. Later, however, France withdrew from poetry. He entered the history of French literature as one of the greatest masters of prose, the author of deep thought and brilliant in the form of philosophical novels, breathtaking in its elegant and biting irony of novels, short stories and fairy tales, as one of the greatest and most acute satirists as bright and bold publicist.

In 1879 came out in one cover, two small story writer - "Jocasta" and "Skinny Cat". The long list of the most famous works of Frans opens novel Crime Sylvestre Bonnard ", released in 1881. In this slender volume, he made a mature, already well-established artist. In this novel, crossed by sincerity and lyricism, sounds, though still subdued, the theme of social injustice, the imperfections of society.

"By leaving the book, many readers felt Sylvestre Bonnard autobiographical character, - writes V. Dynnik. - This interpretation, if we talk about autobiographical in a literal sense, has little justification. Tridtsatisemiletny Anatole France, creator of Sylvester Bonnard, his manners, and in his everyday appearance, daily use very little resemblance to his aging hero.

Photo — «Anatole France»

We can refer, for example, the impression of Marcel Proust, issued from the first meeting with France, when Proust was quite disappointed by the disparity between the perception of the writer encountered when reading his books and his actual appearance, - the ugly man with ulitkoobraznym nose, nasal voice and monotone speech.

How do I. Lileeva wrote: "In the 80-90-ies AFP publishes several collections novell1. Often his stories are written on already well-known subjects are the transcription of old legends and tales, but the pen Frans familiar theme is given new life, begin to sparkle with new colors. France is one of the best masters of style in French literature. In the novels he favored fascinating conversationalist, attracting clever; polished each sentence. He often deliberately stylize their stories, plays the naive simplicity of ancient legends, ancient chronicles of conciseness, elegance memoirs XVIII century. This he brilliantly manage to . . .

The combination of poetic, intimacy with irony and sarcasm, so typical of the creative manner of France, has found a vivid manifestation in his books about his childhood. This topic France spent four stories: "The book is my friend", "Pierre Nozer", "Little Pierre" and "Life in bloom. The first story was written in 1885, the last completed in 1922, two years before his death. "

The disappointment was manifested in a bourgeois republic in France in those years in the form of the skeptical, ironic attitude to everything around him. Skeptic has made France the Abbe Kuanyara, the hero of two of his novels ( "Queen Tavern crow′s feet" (1893) and "The statements of Mr. Jerome Kuanyara" (1893)). Large, clear the mind of the writer, the richness of his thought, subtle irony that destroys the lies and falsehood - that′s what draws the reader in these books.

In the nineties with all the strength they displayed much skill satirical France. He created a cycle of four novels, united by a common title - "Modern History" (1897-1901): "Under the city Elms" (1897), "Willow mannequin" (1897), "Amethyst Ring" (1899) and "Monsieur Bergeret in Paris" (1901).

"It is not figuratively, not hints, but directly and sharply castigated the bourgeois Third Republic France - I. Lileeva wrote. - "Modern History" - a satirical review of France late XIX century, the top of the realistic art of the writer. In the documentary accurately describes France′s political and social life of his time on the pages of his books have been debates on the most important and topical policy issues. France with outrage and indignation tells of a monarchist plot, the dirty and despicable ways that lead to the ranks, to success and exposes the gerrymander, the court. On the pages of modern history "is given a gallery of satirical images, unscrupulous politicians, corrupt officials, indecent society ladies, cunning, crafty priests.

Photo — «Anatole France»

Exposing the clerics and their intrigues to occupy a dominant place in the novel.

New stage of creativity France, open the "modern history", continued such works as "Krenkebil" (1903), "On the white stone" (1904), "Penguin Island" (1908), "The gods crave" ( 1912), "Revolt of the Angels" (1914).

"Krenkebil" - one of the best stories. He tells the sad fate of the merchant-green-grocer, a victim of judicial tyranny, the victim of a ruthless state machine and sounds passionate protest against the injustice and cruelty of bourgeois society.

After France established a utopian novel, "On the white stone", which speaks of the future triumph of socialism. The writer paints a picture of the society in 2270, the society that knows no private ownership and operation . . .

In 1905 France joined the Socialist Party. He was one of the few French socialists, who spoke in defense of the Russian Revolution of 1905. France was one of the founders and later chairman of the Society of Friends of the Russian people and attached to the peoples of Russia.

In the works of Frans these years reflected the torment his doubts and contradictions, and along with them even stronger and sharper resound satire of bourgeois society. Thus was the novel "The Island of Penguins. As noted by V. Dynnik: "Penguin Island" - is a real triumph fransovskoy satire. The writer boldly attacks are moral and political decay, inhumanity, bigotry void of understanding, coupled with brazen cynicism, racist and nationalistic spirit, replacing love for their nation, attacked the rampant colonialism, and many other disgusting features of the capitalist system, and makes it much more vigorously than before. Without limiting the present day, France directs its attention to the very basics of the exploitative system, to its historical roots. Less than anywhere else in the works before Frans, an appeal to history is to him a respite from the day. In the preface to the Penguin Island "writer, ostensibly on behalf of Jaco philosopher, he speaks of an indissoluble unity of the historical and topical subject matter of this book.

In 1912 came the publication of France′s famous novel "The Gods crave. Writer recreated in the novel the life of Paris in 1793, when the "great revolutionary city" had no money, no bread, when he threatened the Austrian guns. He talked about the greatness of the people, which was accomplished by the revolution: "This necessity is erratic, which destroyed the royal authority, overturned the old world . . . not expect mercy from their enemies. "

In the foreground in the novel are the images of revolutionaries, unselfish people, until the end devoted to the struggle with the old world. That is, for example, Tryuber, secretary of the Military Committee of the section.

Photo — «Anatole France»

About the author says it with love and admiration. The man "felt drained in unison with all the patriots, he was so inseparable part of the nation, so his life was dissolved in the life of a great nation. " Tryuber is a novel embodiment of hundreds and thousands of national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the revolution.

In the center of the work - Jacobin Evariste Gamla, loyal follower of Marat and Robespierre, juror of the Revolutionary Tribunal. Young talented artist Gamla devotedly loyal to the revolutionary duty.

France′s attitude to Gamlenu ambivalent: he admired his conviction, his unwavering devotion to the revolution, but condemns his cruelty, harshness and intransigence. Gamla out of love for humanity is inhuman: "I have sacrificed a home and life and honor - he says his Elodie. - I die disgraced, and nothing will be able to bequeath to you, the unfortunate, but all the hateful name . . . Love each other? But do you love me still? . . And do I love? "

The tragedy of fate and identity of Gamla - this is the tragedy of his revolutionary activities. It is complicated and deepened by the fact that, in France, The Convention has not made special changes in the life of the country, in the people.

In the next novel "Revolt of the Angels′ revolution again had a successful end. Satan, rebelled against God-tyrant Yaldavaofa, deposed for it from heaven. He can get his, but should lead to storm the throne of the heavenly host of angels who chose him as their leader. Satan does not believe that the establishment of the new government will save the world from tyranny.

Doubts and hesitations Frans on ways of society were further resolved by life itself. The Great October Socialist Revolution helped the writer to get rid of the pessimism returned him faith in the revolution, in the future, led him back to the political struggle.

In 1920 France joined the French Communist Party. 8 November 1922, he published in L′Humanite his greeting of the USSR over the five years of the October Revolution: "If in Europe there are friends of justice, they should respectfully bow before this revolution, which for the first time in human history has tried to establish people′s power, acting in interests of the people. Born in deprivation, increased among famine and war, the Soviet government had not yet completed the design of its vast and not yet carried out a kingdom of justice. But she, at least, has laid its foundations.

Books Frans occupy pride of place in the treasury of French literature. In 1921 the writer received the Nobel Prize for literature.

France died Oct. 12, 1924 in Tours. At his funeral attended by members of the French government.