Xavier Grall
Encyclopedia
Xavier Grall was a journalist and poet from Brittany
, France
who was a strong advocate of Breton nationalism
during the Third Emsav. His work glorifies a mystical Brittany.
in Finistère
, but moved to Paris. He worked as a journalist for Catholic publications, including the journals La Vie catholique
, of which he was editor, and Témoignage chrétien. He also wrote for Le Monde
and Bretagne.
. Grall's reassertion of Breton identity followed a period of disillusionment with France following the Algerian War. He later wrote that the war undermined his belief in the idea of France:
In response he defined himself as Breton in opposition to French identity:
From this point on his work emphasise a multicultural ideal, building a unique example of Breton literature in French.
, he founded editions Kelenn, where he published Barde imaginé (1968), Keltia Blues (1971), La fête de la nuit (1972) and Rires et pleurs de l'Aven (1978). Alain Guel, who followed his first steps in literature, and with whom he maintained a voluminous correspondence, was one of his best friends, whose support and friendship continued until the end of his life.
Reconnecting with his past as a columnist, he published Le Cheval couché (the lounging horse), a scathing response to Pierre-Jakez Hélias's popular autobiographical novel Cheval d'orgueil (Horse of Pride), which he called "fossilized folkism". He also vilified earlier Breton poets and singers, notably Theodore Botrel
, who he described as the creator of a "pitiable" image of Brittany born "from the depths of his idiocy". He later expressed regret for having written the book.
Grall continued to work from a distance for Le Monde and La Vie catholique. He published pamphlets and occasional pieces; le billet d'Olivier presented his passions and his moods on current topics. He also wrote essays on François Mauriac
, James Dean
and others.
In the early 1970s, he founded the Breton separatist newspaper le Nation bretonne with Alain Guel and Glenmor, where he published lyrics under the pseudonym of "Saint HERBOTS", among others.
He died in Quimperlé
in 1981.
Each year in Carhaix a festival des Vieilles Charrues bears his name.
A literary prize was created in his name at the Festival de la Parole Poétique (Pays de Quimperlé
). Le Prix Xavier-Grall is awarded to a poet for his life's work. Recipients are:
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
who was a strong advocate of Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism is the nationalism of the traditional province of Brittany in France. Brittany is considered to be one of the six Celtic nations...
during the Third Emsav. His work glorifies a mystical Brittany.
Early career
Xavier Grall was born in LandivisiauLandivisiau
Landivisiau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-International relations:It is twinned with Bideford in the southwest of the United Kingdom.-Population:...
in 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...
, but moved to Paris. He worked as a journalist for Catholic publications, including the journals La Vie catholique
La Vie
La Vie is a weekly French Christian magazine, edited by Malesherbes Publications, a member of the Groupe La Vie-Le Monde.-History:Founded in 1924 by Francisque Gay as La Vie catholique , the magazine was renamed La vie in 1977...
, of which he was editor, and Témoignage chrétien. He also wrote for Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
and Bretagne.
Bretonism
Grall rediscovered his Breton identity in the 1970s, leaving Paris permanently in 1973, returning to Brittany to live at Bossulan Farm in Nizon, just outside Pont-AvenPont-Aven
Pont-Aven is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Pont-Aven are called in French Pontavenistes.-History:...
. Grall's reassertion of Breton identity followed a period of disillusionment with France following the Algerian War. He later wrote that the war undermined his belief in the idea of France:
I had done the Algerian War, in the wolfish sun my eyes were opened. Heartbreaking revelation. From Djebel Amour [in Algeria] to Montagnes Noires [in Brittany], there were similarities. Same tyrant: the French state. Same victim: the peasant. Same cops: CRSCompagnies Républicaines de SécuritéThe Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité are the riot control forces and general reserve of the French National Police. The CRS were created on 8 December 1944 and the first units were organised by 31 January 1945. The CRS were reorganized in 1948...
.... When we saw France torture, we could not put that song on the level to which we'd been lulled .... The image of France that I had formed, very high and almost mystical, found itself forever tarnished.
In response he defined himself as Breton in opposition to French identity:
You discover Bretonness as it is not allowed to be. ... And you think that your country does exist, dear God, terribly. You recover. You look straight ahead. You are decolonized. You are Berber, Kabyle, Breton.
From this point on his work emphasise a multicultural ideal, building a unique example of Breton literature in French.
Activism
With his friends Alain Guel and the protest singer GlenmorGlenmor
Glenmor was the stage name of Emile Le Scanf , a Breton protest singer who sought to preserve the Breton language and adapt local traditions of folk singing to the radical culture of the 1960s and 70s. He is also known by the Breton name Milig Ar Skañv.-Early career:Emile Le Scanf was born in 1931...
, he founded editions Kelenn, where he published Barde imaginé (1968), Keltia Blues (1971), La fête de la nuit (1972) and Rires et pleurs de l'Aven (1978). Alain Guel, who followed his first steps in literature, and with whom he maintained a voluminous correspondence, was one of his best friends, whose support and friendship continued until the end of his life.
Reconnecting with his past as a columnist, he published Le Cheval couché (the lounging horse), a scathing response to Pierre-Jakez Hélias's popular autobiographical novel Cheval d'orgueil (Horse of Pride), which he called "fossilized folkism". He also vilified earlier Breton poets and singers, notably Theodore Botrel
Théodore Botrel
Jean-Baptiste-Théodore-Marie Botrel was a French singer-songwriter, poet and playwright. He is best known for his popular songs about his native Brittany, of which the most famous is La Paimpolaise. During World War I he became France's official "Bard of the Armies".-Life:Born in Dinan, Botrel was...
, who he described as the creator of a "pitiable" image of Brittany born "from the depths of his idiocy". He later expressed regret for having written the book.
Grall continued to work from a distance for Le Monde and La Vie catholique. He published pamphlets and occasional pieces; le billet d'Olivier presented his passions and his moods on current topics. He also wrote essays on François Mauriac
François Mauriac
François Mauriac was a French author; member of the Académie française ; laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature . He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur .-Biography:...
, James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
and others.
In the early 1970s, he founded the Breton separatist newspaper le Nation bretonne with Alain Guel and Glenmor, where he published lyrics under the pseudonym of "Saint HERBOTS", among others.
He died in Quimperlé
Quimperlé
Quimperlé is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Geography:Quimperlé is in the southeast of Finistère, 20 km to the sest of Lorient and 44 km to the east of Quimper...
in 1981.
Commemorations
A bronze sculpture to his memory stands on the 'Promenade Xavier Grall' on the banks of the river Aven in Pont-Aven.Each year in Carhaix a festival des Vieilles Charrues bears his name.
A literary prize was created in his name at the Festival de la Parole Poétique (Pays de Quimperlé
Quimperlé
Quimperlé is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Geography:Quimperlé is in the southeast of Finistère, 20 km to the sest of Lorient and 44 km to the east of Quimper...
). Le Prix Xavier-Grall is awarded to a poet for his life's work. Recipients are:
- Jean-Paul Kermarrec in 2006.
- Jacqueline Saint-Jean in 2007
- Marie-Josée Christien in 2009
- Alain Jégou in 2008
- Pierre Colin in 2010
Publications
- James DeanJames DeanJames Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
et notre jeunesse, 1958 - Mauriac journaliste, 1960
- La génération du Djebel, 1962
- Africa blues, 1962
- Cantiques à Mélilla, 1964
- Le rituel breton, 1965
- Barde imaginé, Éditions KELENN, 1968
- Keltia Blues, Éditions KELENN, 1971
- GlenmorGlenmorGlenmor was the stage name of Emile Le Scanf , a Breton protest singer who sought to preserve the Breton language and adapt local traditions of folk singing to the radical culture of the 1960s and 70s. He is also known by the Breton name Milig Ar Skañv.-Early career:Emile Le Scanf was born in 1931...
, 1972 - La fête de la nuit, Éditions KELENN, 1972
- Rires et pleurs de l'Aven, Éditions KELENN, 1978
- La Sône des pluies et des tombes, Éditions Kelenn 1976
- Le Cheval couché, 1977
- Stèle pour Lamennais, 1978
- Entendras-tu le vent chanter dans le grand chêne ?, 1979
- Si loin de toi, Tristan…, 1979
- Arthur Rimbaud, la marche au soleil, 1980
- Solo et autres poèmes, 1981
- Genèse et derniers poèmes, 1982
- La marche des calvaires
- Les vents m'ont dit, 1982
- Et parlez-moi de la terre..., 1983
- L'Inconnu me dévore, Calligrammes, 1984
- Les billets d'Olivier, éditions Calligrammes, 1985
- Chroniques de l'Indien I et II, 1995 et 1996
- Mémoires de ronces et de galets, 2002. Textes donnés à la revue Sav Breizh. An Here. 2002
- Au nom du père. Recueil de textes parus dans La Vie An Here. 2003, 486 p.
- Œuvre Poétique, éditions Rougerie, 2010