Jean Giono facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Giono
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| Born | 30 March 1895 Manosque, France |
| Died | 8 October 1970 (aged 75) Manosque, France |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | French |
| Literary movement | Popular culture |
| Notable works |
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Jean Giono (born March 30, 1895 – died October 8, 1970) was a French writer. He wrote many stories, mostly set in the beautiful Provence region of France.
Contents
Early Life and First Books
Jean Giono grew up in a family that was not very rich. His father was a shoemaker, and his mother was a laundry worker. Jean spent most of his life in Manosque, a town in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
He had to leave school at 16 to work in a bank to help his family. But he loved reading and read many important classic books. These included the Bible, Homer's Iliad, and works by Virgil.
When World War I started, he had to join the army. He fought in the Battle of Verdun. What he saw in the war made him believe strongly in peace for the rest of his life. He became a pacifist, meaning he was against war.
In 1919, he went back to working at the bank. A year later, he married a friend from childhood. They had two children together.
Becoming a Full-Time Writer
Giono's first published novel was Colline (1929). It was very successful and won an award called the Prix Brentano. Because of this success, he left his bank job in 1930 to write full-time.
After Colline, he wrote two more novels: Un de Baumugnes (1929) and Regain (1930). These three books are known as the “Pan trilogy”. In these stories, Giono showed nature as being very powerful, like the Greek god Pan.
His other novels from the 1930s were also set in Provence. They often featured farmers as the main characters. These books showed his belief that nature was a living, powerful force. The famous filmmaker Marcel Pagnol even made three movies based on Giono's books from this time.
Belief in Peace
Throughout the 1930s, Giono continued to share his strong belief in peace. He wrote novels like Le grand troupeau (1931) and small books called pamphlets, such as Refus d’obéissance (1937).
He also met with friends who shared his ideas about peace. They met every year in a small village called Contadour. Their writings about peace were published in a collection called Cahiers du Contadour.
A Time of Change
The late 1930s brought big changes for Giono. He felt it was time to try new things with his writing. Also, it became clear that his efforts for peace were not stopping another war.
When World War II began in 1939, Giono was briefly put in prison. This was because of his strong anti-war views, but he was soon released without any charges.
New Writing Style
After this, Giono started writing in a new way. He began to be influenced by another writer named Stendhal. His new novels were set in specific times and places. They showed characters dealing with real-world problems and events. This was different from his earlier, more timeless stories.
He also started using a new way of telling stories called the interior monologue. This allowed readers to see what the characters were thinking and feeling. Before, he mostly used an omniscient narrator, where the author knew everything.
Giono also wanted to write a series of ten novels, like Balzac’s Comédie humaine. He planned to show characters from all parts of society. He also wanted to compare different times in history by showing members of the same family a hundred years apart. He never finished this big project. Only four novels, known as the Hussard novels, were completed as planned.
His new interest in history even led him to write a history book called Le Désastre de Pavie (1963). He also studied the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli. This helped him understand human nature more deeply, and he wrote an article about Machiavelli.
After World War II
In 1944, when France was liberated from occupation, Giono was again accused of working with the Nazis. He was put in prison for five months but was freed without any charges.
Because of this, he was not allowed to publish books for three years. During this time, in 1945, he started writing Angelo. This book was like a workshop where he tried out his new writing ideas. It contained early versions of stories and new ways of writing that he would use in later novels.
Later Works and Recognition
The first major novel from his new period to be published was Un roi sans divertissement (1947). It was made into a successful film in 1963, and Giono wrote the movie script himself. This story is like a detective mystery set in the early 1800s. It shows Giono's more serious view of human nature.
The Hussard Novels
His most famous novel from this time is Le Hussard sur le toit (1951). It tells the story of Angélo Pardi, a brave and romantic character. He travels through Provence during a cholera outbreak in 1832. This epidemic can be seen as a symbol for the wars that affected Giono so much. The book is full of vivid descriptions of the countryside. It was made into a film in 1995.
Its sequel, Le Bonheur fou (1957), continues Angélo's adventures in Italy during the 1848 revolution.
Other Important Works
Les Ames fortes (1950) is another important book from this period. It looks at how greedy and selfish people can be. Like Un Roi sans divertissement, the story is told only through the characters' words, without the author explaining things. This makes readers think for themselves.
Les Grands chemins (1951) is a less dark story. It explores ideas about travel, gambling, lies, and friendship. It is also told from the main character's point of view.
His book Voyage en Italie (1953) is not a typical travel guide. It's a very personal story about Giono's experiences and the people he met in Italy. It tells readers more about Giono himself than just about Italy.
The Man Who Planted Trees
Outside France, Giono's most famous work is probably the short story The Man who Planted Trees. This hopeful tale is about a man who brings a deserted valley back to life by planting many trees. It shows Giono's deep love for nature. He was one of the first writers to think about environmental issues, like the modern ecological movement. He did not take any money from this story and allowed anyone to share or translate it for free.
Awards and Legacy
In his later years, Giono received many honors. He won the Prince Rainier of Monaco literary prize in 1953 for his life's work. He was also chosen to be a member of the Académie Goncourt in 1954.
Jean Giono passed away from a heart attack in 1970.
A school in Nice is named after him, as are streets in Cannes and Fréjus.
Works
See also
In Spanish: Jean Giono para niños
