Henry de Montherlant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry de Montherlant
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de Montherlant c. 1925
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| Born | Henry Marie Joseph Frédéric Expedite Millon de Montherlant 20 April 1895 Paris, France |
| Died | 21 September 1972 (aged 77) Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Period | Early-mid 20th century |
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Henry de Montherlant (born April 20, 1895 – died September 21, 1972) was a famous French writer. He wrote essays, novels, and plays. In 1960, he became a member of the important French Academy, called the Académie française.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henry de Montherlant was born in Paris, France. His family was old and noble. He went to school at Lycée Janson de Sailly and Sainte-Croix. His father had strong old-fashioned ideas and didn't even want electricity or a telephone. His mother was often sick and passed away when she was only 43.
From a young age, Henry loved reading and writing. When he was about 10, he read a book called Quo Vadis. This made him very interested in Ancient Rome and the Latin language. He also enjoyed sports and bullfighting. When he was 15, his parents sent him to Spain. There, he learned about bullfighting and even killed two young bulls. He was also good at drawing.
In 1912, when he was almost 17, Henry was asked to leave his Catholic school. He and five other boys had started a group called 'La Famille' (The Family). It was like a club where members promised to be loyal and help each other. This event became a big part of Montherlant's life. He later wrote about it in a play and a novel.
War Experiences and Early Success
After his parents passed away in 1914 and 1915, Henry lived with his grandmother and uncles. In 1916, he joined the army. He was injured and received an award for his bravery. His experiences in World War I deeply affected him. He wrote a book called Songe (Dream) and a poem called Chant funèbre pour les morts de Verdun (Funeral Chant for the Dead at Verdun). Both works celebrated the bravery of soldiers during the war.
Montherlant became well-known in 1934 with his novel Les Célibataires (The Bachelors). He also sold millions of copies of his series of four novels called Les Jeunes Filles (The Young Girls), written between 1936 and 1939. During these years, Montherlant, who had inherited money, traveled a lot. He visited Spain, where he met the famous bullfighter Juan Belmonte. He also traveled to Italy and Algeria.
Later Life and Recognition
During World War II, after France was defeated in 1940, Montherlant stayed in Paris. He continued to write plays, poems, and essays. He also worked as a war reporter. At the time, he was very famous. He had won a major award from the French Academy in 1934.
After the war, he faced some criticism for his writings during the German occupation. However, he was not punished as severely as others who openly supported the occupation. In 1945, he was told not to publish anything for one year. In 1960, he was chosen to be a member of the Académie française for life.
In his later years, Montherlant had trouble seeing. He passed away in 1972. His ashes were scattered in Rome, near the Temple of Portunus and into the Tiber River.
Major Works
Montherlant's early successful works included Les Célibataires (The Bachelors) in 1934. His series of four novels, Les Jeunes Filles (The Young Girls), sold millions of copies and was translated into 13 languages. His later novel Chaos and Night was published in 1963. Many famous writers praised his novels.
He also wrote many plays. Some of his well-known plays are Pasiphaé (1936), La Reine morte (The Dead Queen) (1942), and Le Maître de Santiago (The Master of Santiago) (1947). He is especially remembered as a playwright. In his plays and novels, he often showed brave characters. He also explored how people behave in unexpected ways.
Montherlant was also an essayist. In his collection L'Equinoxe de septembre (1938), he wrote about what he saw as problems in France at the time.
Awards and Honors
His novel Les célibataires won the Grand prix de littérature de l'Académie française in 1934. It also won the English Northcliffe Prize. In 1960, Montherlant became a member of the Académie française. He was also an Officer of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor.
Montherlant's book Les Jeunes Filles is mentioned in two films by a German director named Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Translations and Adaptations
Terence Kilmartin translated some of Montherlant's novels into English. This included a 1968 edition of the four volumes of Les Jeunes Filles, which was simply called The Girls in English.
In 2009, New York Review Books republished Kilmartin's translation of Chaos and Night (1963).
A television movie was made in 1997 based on Montherlant's play La Ville dont le prince est un enfant. Christophe Malavoy directed and starred in it.
Illustrated Works
Some of Henry de Montherlant's books were published with special illustrations. These editions are now very valuable. Examples include "Pasiphaé," illustrated by Henri Matisse, and "Les Jeunes Filles", illustrated by Mariette Lydis. Other artists like Jean Cocteau also illustrated his works.
Images for kids
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Henry de Montherlant's signature
See also
In Spanish: Henry de Montherlant para niños
