Julien Green facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julien Green
Green in 1933 as photographed by Carl van Vechten
Born	Julian Hartridge Green (1900-09-06)September 6, 1900 Paris, France
Died	August 13, 1998(1998-08-13) (aged 97) Paris, France
Resting place	Sankt Egid Church, Klagenfurt, Austria
Pen name	Théophile Delaporte David Irland
Occupation	Novelist and essayist
Nationality	American
Notable works	The Dark Journey The Closed Garden Moira Each Man in His Darkness Dixie trilogy Diary (1919–1998) Autobiography (in four volumes)
Partner	Robert de Saint-Jean
Children	Éric Jourdan (adopted)
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Julien Green (born September 6, 1900 – died August 13, 1998) was an American writer. He wrote many novels, like The Dark Journey and Moira. He also wrote a four-part autobiography and a very long diary.

Even though he was American, he mostly wrote in French. He was the first non-French person to be chosen for the Académie française. This is a very important group that protects the French language.

About Julien Green's Life

Julian Hartridge Green was born in Paris, France. His parents were American. His family had a connection to a famous American politician, Julian Hartridge.

Julien was the youngest of eight children. He grew up in a strict Protestant family. When he was 16, he became a Roman Catholic.

Early Years and War Service

At age 16, Green wanted to help during World War I. He volunteered as an ambulance driver. When people found out how young he was, he had to leave.

But he quickly joined another ambulance group. After that, he joined the French Army. He served as an artillery officer until 1919.

Life in America and Return to France

After the war, Green went to the University of Virginia in the United States. He spent three years there. This was his first real experience with the American South.

In 1922, he went back to France. He first tried to be a painter. Soon, he started writing in French. By 1927, he was a well-known writer in France.

When France was defeated in 1940, Green returned to America. He worked for the United States Office of War Information. He broadcast radio messages to France almost every day.

He worked with famous people like André Breton. After World War II, Green moved back to France.

His Final Resting Place

Julien Green passed away in Paris just before his 98th birthday. He is buried in a special chapel in St. Egid Church in Klagenfurt, Austria. On his tomb, his name is spelled "Julian," which was his original English spelling.

Julien Green's Writing Style

Many of Green's books explored ideas about faith and religion. He also wrote about people who pretended to be good but were not.

Some of his stories were set in the southern United States. He felt a strong connection to the South. He called himself a "Sudiste," meaning a southerner.

His Famous Diary

In France, Julien Green is most famous for his diary. It was published in 19 volumes. The diary covers almost 80 years of his life, from 1919 to 1998.

It gives a special look into his thoughts on writing and religion. It also shows what the art and literature scene in Paris was like for many decades.

Green's writing style was simple and clear. He used an older French verb tense called the passé simple. This style was liked by the Académie française.

Writing in Two Languages

Even though he mostly wrote in French, Green also wrote in English. He translated some of his own books from French to English. His sister, Anne Green, who was also a writer, sometimes helped him.

One of his books, Le langage et son double, has both English and French versions side-by-side. This helps readers compare the two.

Some of his books were made into films. Leviathan [fr] (1962) is the most famous. He even helped write the movie script for it.

His Relationships and Legacy

For many years, Green had a close companion named Robert de Saint-Jean. He was a journalist. Later in his life, Green adopted a writer named Éric Jourdan.

Académie Française Membership

Julien Green became a member of the Académie française in 1971. He took the place of another famous writer, François Mauriac.

In 1996, he decided to leave the Académie. This caused a small stir. However, he was only officially replaced after he passed away.

His American Nationality

Many people thought Green had dual citizenship. This means they believed he was a citizen of both France and America. But even though he was born in Paris and wrote in French, he was always an American citizen.

It is said that the French President, Georges Pompidou, offered him French citizenship in 1972. But Green chose to remain American.

Julien Green's Works

See also

In Spanish: Julien Green para niños

• Jocelyn Godefroi
• List of ambulance drivers during World War I