André Maurois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André Maurois
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1936 photograph of André Maurois
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| Born | Émile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog 26 July 1885 Elbeuf, France |
| Died | 9 October 1967 (aged 82) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France |
| Resting place | Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | French |
| Nationality | French |
| Education | Lycée Pierre Corneille |
| Notable works | Les silences du colonel Bramble |
| Relatives | Ernest Herzog and Alice Lévy-Rueff |
André Maurois (born Émile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog; 26 July 1885 – 9 October 1967) was a famous French author. He wrote many different kinds of books. These included novels, biographies (life stories), history books, and even stories for children and science fiction.
Contents
André Maurois's Life Story
André Maurois was born on July 26, 1885, in a town called Elbeuf in France. He went to school at the Lycée Pierre Corneille in Rouen. Both of these places are in a region called Normandy.
Family Background
His family, the Herzogs, were Jewish textile manufacturers. This means they made cloth and fabrics. His family had to leave their home in Alsace after a war called the Franco-Prussian War in 1870–71. They found a new home in Elbeuf.
Maurois's family brought all their workers with them when they moved their factory. His grandfather even received a special award, the Legion of Honour, for saving a French industry. This family history inspired some of Maurois's books. For example, his book Bernard Quesnay tells the story of a young man who works in his family's textile mills.
World War I Experiences
During World War I, Maurois joined the French army. He worked as an interpreter, helping people who spoke different languages understand each other. He also served as a liaison officer, connecting the French and British armies.
His first novel, Les silences du colonel Bramble, was about his experiences during the war. It was a clever and realistic story. The book became very popular in France right away. It was translated into English as The Silence of Colonel Bramble and became popular in English-speaking countries too.
Many of his other books were also translated into English. This is because he often wrote about British people or topics. He wrote biographies about famous British figures like Disraeli, Byron, and Shelley.
Joining the Académie française
In 1938, Maurois was chosen to join the Académie française. This is a very important and respected group in France for people who are experts in the French language. Marshal Philippe Pétain encouraged and helped him get this position. Maurois thanked Pétain in his autobiography, Call no man happy.
World War II and Later Life
When World War II started, Maurois became an official observer for France. He was with the British General Headquarters. He went with the British Army to Belgium. He knew many important politicians in the French government.
In June 1940, he was sent on a special mission to London. After the war ended, Maurois moved from England to Canada. He wrote about these experiences in his book, Tragedy in France. Later in World War II, he also served in the French army and the Free French Forces.
In 1947, the name André Maurois, which was originally his pen name (a name he used for writing), became his official legal name.
André Maurois passed away in 1967 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He had a long and successful career as a writer. He is buried in the Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery near Paris.
André Maurois's Family
André Maurois's first wife was Jeanne-Marie Wanda de Szymkiewicz. She was a young Polish-Russian aristocrat who studied at Oxford University. Sadly, she became very ill and passed away in 1924.
After his father died, Maurois decided to stop working in the textile business. He chose to focus completely on his writing career.
Maurois's second wife was Simone de Caillavet. Her father was a playwright, and her mother was an actress. After France was invaded in 1940 during World War II, André and Simone moved to the United States. They helped with efforts to spread information against the Nazis.
Jean-Richard Bloch was his brother-in-law.
See Also
In Spanish: André Maurois para niños
- The Dogs and the Wolves (novel)
