Eugène Guillevic facts for kids

Eugène Guillevic (born August 5, 1907, in Carnac, France – died March 19, 1997, in Paris) was a famous French poet. Many people knew him simply as Guillevic.

Life Story of Guillevic

Guillevic grew up in Brittany, a region in France known for its rocky coast and the sea. His father was a sailor who later became a policeman. Because of his father's job, Guillevic moved to different towns in France as a child. These included Jeumont in 1909, Saint-Jean-Brévelay in 1912, and Ferrette in 1919.

After finishing high school with a focus on mathematics, he passed important exams in 1926. This allowed him to work in government administration, first in Alsace and Ardennes. In 1935, he moved to Paris to work at the Ministry of Finance. During World War II, in 1942, he was put in charge of economic control.

From 1945 to 1947, he worked closely with government ministers. After some political changes in 1947, he returned to his role as an Inspector General of Economics. He worked on studies about the economy and planning until he retired in 1967.

Guillevic was friends with other writers, like Jean Follain, before World War II. He joined a literary group called Sagesse. Later, he became part of another group known as the School of Rochefort.

For about 30 years, he was a practicing Catholic. He became interested in communism during the Spanish Civil War. In 1942, he officially joined the Communist Party. He worked with other famous writers like Paul Éluard. He also helped publish secret newspapers and books during the war.

His poetry is known for being clear and direct, like a rock. It can feel strong and generous. Guillevic's poems often avoid using metaphors. Instead, he preferred comparisons, which he thought were easier to understand.

Awards and Recognition

Guillevic received several important awards for his poetry:

• 1976 Grand Award for Poetry of the Académie française
• 1984 Grand National Prize for Poetry
• 1988 Prix Goncourt for poetry

Guillevic's Books in English

Some of Guillevic's poetry collections have been translated into English:

• Geometries. Translated by Richard Sieburth, Ugly Duckling Press, 2010.
• The Sea & Other Poems. Translated by Patricia Terry, Black Widow Press/Commonwealth Books, Inc., July 15, 2007, ISBN: 978-0-9768449-8-3
• Carnac. Translated by John Montague, Bloodaxe Books December 2000, ISBN: 978-1-85224-393-7
• Selected Poems. Translated by Denise Levertov, 1968, New Directions NDP279, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 74-88726

French Works by Guillevic

Here are some of the books Guillevic wrote in French:

• L'Expérience Guillevic (1923–1938, published in 1994)
• Requiem (1938, six poems not published by the author)
• Terraqué, Gallimard, Paris, 1942.
• Elégies, with a lithography by Jean Dubuffet, Le Calligraphe, Paris 1946
• Fractures, Éditions de Minuit, collection L'Honneur des poètes, Paris 1947
• Exécutoire, Gallimard, Paris, 1947.
• Gagner, Gallimard, Paris, 1949.
• Terre à bonheur, Seghers, Paris, 1952; edition augmented by Envie de vivre, Seghers, Paris, 1985.
• 31 sonnets, preface by Aragon, Gallimard, Paris, 1954 (collection the author had not wanted re-issued)
• Carnac, Gallimard, Paris, 1961.
• Sphère, Gallimard, Paris, 1963.
• Avec, Gallimard, Paris, 1966.
• Euclidiennes, Gallimard, Paris, 1967.
• Ville, Gallimard, Paris, 1969.
• Paroi, Gallimard, Paris, 1970.
• Encoches, Editeurs français réunis, Paris, 1970.
• Inclus, Gallimard, Paris, 1973.
• Du domaine, Gallimard, Paris, 1977.
• Étier, poèmes 1965-1975, Gallimard, Paris, 1979.
• Autres, poèmes 1969-1979, Gallimard, Paris, 1980.
• Trouées, poèmes 1973-1980, Gallimard, Paris, 1981.
• Guitare, avec des bois en couleurs de Gérard Blanchet, Les Bibliophiles de France, 1982
• Requis, poèmes 1977-1982, Gallimard, Paris, 1983 (ISBN: 2070267385).
• Timbres, Ecrits des Forges, Trois-Rivières, 1986 (ISBN: 2890460983).
• Motifs, poèmes 1981-1984, Gallimard, Paris, 1987 (ISBN: 2070711102).
• Creusement, poèmes 1977-1986, Gallimard, Paris, 1987 (ISBN: 2070711099).
• Qui, L'Instant perpétuel, Rouen, 1987
• Art poétique, poème 1985-1986, Gallimard, Paris, 1989 (ISBN: 2070717283).
• Le Chant, poème 1987-1988, Gallimard, Paris, 1990 (ISBN: 207072123X).
• Impacts, Deyrolle Editeur, Cognac, 1990 (ISBN: 2908487012).
• Maintenant, poème 1986-1992, Gallimard, Paris, 1993 (ISBN: 2070733424).
• Possibles futurs, poèmes 1982-1994, Gallimard, Paris, 1996 (ISBN: 2070745678).
• Proses ou Boire dans le secret des grottes, Fischbacher, Paris, 2001 (posthumous edition by Lucie Albertini-Guillevic and Jérôme Pellissier). (ISBN: 9782717900262)
• Quotidiennes, poèmes 1994-1996, Gallimard, Paris, 2002.
• Présent, poèmes 1987-1997, Gallimard, Paris, 2004 (ISBN: 2070770214)
• Pas si bêtes'!, Seghers Jeunesse, 2004, (ISBN: 2232122530)
• Relier, poèmes 1938-1996, Gallimard, Paris, 2007 (posthumous edition by Lucie Albertini-Guillevic), 810 p. (ISBN: 978-2-07-078514-8)
• Humour blanc et autres fabliettes, Seghers Jeunesse, 2008 (ISBN: 9782232123016)

Republished Paperback Editions

These are some of his works that have been re-released in paperback:

• Terraqué, suivi d'Exécutoire, preface by Jacques Borel, 1968.
• Sphère suivi de Carnac, 1977.
• Du domaine suivi de Euclidiennes.
• Etier suivi de Autres, 1997 (ISBN: 2070326284).
• Art poétique précédé de Paroi et suivi de Le Chant.
• Possibles futurs, 2007.