Robert Aron
Encyclopedia
Robert Aron was a French writer
who authored a number of works on politics and history.
, he joined the military and was injured on the front as an officer in 1918 at the end of World War I
.
, where he was for some time the secretary of Gaston Gallimard
. He also worked as a film critic for the magazine La Revue du Cinéma, and wrote about politics in the foreign service for La Revue des Deux Mondes. His interest in post-war avant-garde literature and art and its most modern and provocative expressions was the impetus behind the creation, together with Antonin Artaud
and Roger Vitrac
, of the Théâtre Alfred Jarry.
Although he was somewhat disappointed by his early experiences, his life took a new turn as he became reacquainted with a fellow, former student of the Lycée Condorcet, Arnaud Dandieu, in 1927. Their work together in political and philosophical research in support of communism
spawned three works in the early 1930shttp://www.economist.com/world/europe/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=5323762: Décadence de la Nation Française (1931, "Decline of the French Nation"), Le Cancer Américain (1931, "The American Cancer") and La Révolution Nécessaire (1933, "The Necessary Revolution"). These works constituted the principal theoretical base on which he created the group l'Ordre Nouveau
(The New Order) in 1930, which with Esprit
represented one of the most original expressions of the Nonconformist Movement during the 1930s. In close collaboration with Dandieu until his death in 1933, Aron took a very active part in all of the activities of l'Ordre Nouveau until its end in 1938. Thereafter, Aron's activities and viewpoints would be influenced by these experiences.
In 1940, the advent of World War II
interrupted his editorial work at the Nouvelle Revue Française
("New French Review"), a literary magazine. In 1941 he was arrested in one of the Nazis' first anti-semitic operations and held in the Mérignac
camp near Bordeaux
. After being released, he was not allowed to travel to Paris
and instead moved to Lyon
, where he became involved, through his friend Jean Rigaut, in preparations for the American embarkments in North Africa
.
Soon after he was able to escape to Algiers
, thanks to Jean Jardin, a former contributor to l'Ordre Nouveau, and at the time director of Pierre Laval
's cabinet. In Algiers, Robert Aron became a part of one of the first administrative teams of General Giraud and then General Charles de Gaulle
. With Lucie Faure and Jean Amrouche
he founded a new literary review, La Nef ("The Steeple"), for which he would continue writing until 1952. In 1944-1945, he contributed to the creation of the "Federation" Movement and would remain an active supporter of the French Federalist Movement until his death by regularly collaborating in the monthly publication Le XXe siècle Fédéraliste ("The Federalist 20th Century"), and participating in initiatives to create a Federation of European States
.
Aron took up editorial duties again after the Liberation of France, most notably at the publishing houses Librairie Académique Perrin and later, Éditions Fayard. In 1950, he undertook an important work of historical research on contemporary French history, writing the following works: Histoire de Vichy (1956, "History of Vichy"), Histoire de la Libération (1959, "History of the Liberation"), and Histoire de l'Epuration (1967-1975, "History of the Purification").
An agnostic during the 1930s, Aron returned to his Jewish faith after 1945 and participated in formal Jewish/Christian dialogue. In 1974, he was elected member of the Académie Française
, but he died suddenly the night before his acceptance ceremony on 19 April 1975.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who authored a number of works on politics and history.
Early life
The son of an established stockbroker, Robert Aron was from an upper-class Jewish family with origins in Eastern France. After attending the Lycée CondorcetLycée Condorcet
The Lycée Condorcet is a school founded in 1803 in Paris, France, located at 8, rue du Havre, in the city's IXe arrondissement. Since its inception, various political eras have seen it given a number of different names, but its identity today honors the memory of the Marquis de Condorcet. The...
, he joined the military and was injured on the front as an officer in 1918 at the end of 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...
.
Career
Receiving a degree in literature after the war, he did not teach and instead joined the publishing house Éditions GallimardÉditions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard is one of the leading French publishers of books. The Guardian has described it as having "the best backlist in the world". In 2003 it and its subsidiaries published 1418 titles....
, where he was for some time the secretary of Gaston Gallimard
Gaston Gallimard
Gaston Gallimard was a French publisher.He founded La Nouvelle Revue Française in 1908, together with André Gide and Jean Schlumberger....
. He also worked as a film critic for the magazine La Revue du Cinéma, and wrote about politics in the foreign service for La Revue des Deux Mondes. His interest in post-war avant-garde literature and art and its most modern and provocative expressions was the impetus behind the creation, together with Antonin Artaud
Antonin Artaud
Antoine Marie Joseph Artaud, more well-known as Antonin Artaud was a French playwright, poet, actor and theatre director...
and Roger Vitrac
Roger Vitrac
Roger Vitrac was a French surrealist playwright and poet.Born in Pinsac, Roger Vitrac moved to Paris in 1910. As a young man, he was influenced by symbolism and the writings of Lautréamont and Alfred Jarry, and he developed a passion for theatre and poetry...
, of the Théâtre Alfred Jarry.
Although he was somewhat disappointed by his early experiences, his life took a new turn as he became reacquainted with a fellow, former student of the Lycée Condorcet, Arnaud Dandieu, in 1927. Their work together in political and philosophical research in support of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
spawned three works in the early 1930shttp://www.economist.com/world/europe/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=5323762: Décadence de la Nation Française (1931, "Decline of the French Nation"), Le Cancer Américain (1931, "The American Cancer") and La Révolution Nécessaire (1933, "The Necessary Revolution"). These works constituted the principal theoretical base on which he created the group l'Ordre Nouveau
Ordre Nouveau
Ordre Nouveau may refer to:*Ordre Nouveau *Ordre Nouveau *Ordre Nouveau...
(The New Order) in 1930, which with Esprit
Esprit (magazine)
Esprit is a French literary magazine. Founded in October 1932 by Emmanuel Mounier, it was the principal review of personalist intellectuals of the time. From 1957 to 1976, it was directed by Jean-Marie Domenach. Paul Thibaud directed it from 1977 to 1989. The philosopher Paul Ricoeur often...
represented one of the most original expressions of the Nonconformist Movement during the 1930s. In close collaboration with Dandieu until his death in 1933, Aron took a very active part in all of the activities of l'Ordre Nouveau until its end in 1938. Thereafter, Aron's activities and viewpoints would be influenced by these experiences.
In 1940, the advent of 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...
interrupted his editorial work at the Nouvelle Revue Française
Nouvelle Revue Française
La Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals, including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger...
("New French Review"), a literary magazine. In 1941 he was arrested in one of the Nazis' first anti-semitic operations and held in the Mérignac
Mérignac
Mérignac can refer to Bordeaux - Mérignac Airport.Mérignac is also the name of several communes in France:* Mérignac, Charente* Mérignac, Charente-Maritime* Mérignac, Gironde...
camp near Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. After being released, he was not allowed to travel to 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...
and instead moved to Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, where he became involved, through his friend Jean Rigaut, in preparations for the American embarkments in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
Soon after he was able to escape to Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, thanks to Jean Jardin, a former contributor to l'Ordre Nouveau, and at the time director of Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
's cabinet. In Algiers, Robert Aron became a part of one of the first administrative teams of General Giraud and then General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
. With Lucie Faure and Jean Amrouche
Jean Amrouche
Jean-Elmouhoub Amrouche was a French-language Algerian poet. Born to a Catholic family in Kabylie in Algeria, Amrouche emigrated with his family to Tunisia while still young...
he founded a new literary review, La Nef ("The Steeple"), for which he would continue writing until 1952. In 1944-1945, he contributed to the creation of the "Federation" Movement and would remain an active supporter of the French Federalist Movement until his death by regularly collaborating in the monthly publication Le XXe siècle Fédéraliste ("The Federalist 20th Century"), and participating in initiatives to create a Federation of European States
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Aron took up editorial duties again after the Liberation of France, most notably at the publishing houses Librairie Académique Perrin and later, Éditions Fayard. In 1950, he undertook an important work of historical research on contemporary French history, writing the following works: Histoire de Vichy (1956, "History of Vichy"), Histoire de la Libération (1959, "History of the Liberation"), and Histoire de l'Epuration (1967-1975, "History of the Purification").
An agnostic during the 1930s, Aron returned to his Jewish faith after 1945 and participated in formal Jewish/Christian dialogue. In 1974, he was elected member of the Académie Française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, but he died suddenly the night before his acceptance ceremony on 19 April 1975.
Important works
- Histoire de l'épuration, tome 2 : Des prisons clandestines aux tribunaux d'exception (septembre 1944 - juin 1949); Paris, Fayard, 1969.