René Crevel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids René Crevel
Born	René Crevel (1900-08-10)10 August 1900 Paris, France
Died	18 June 1935(1935-06-18) (aged 34) Paris, France

René Crevel (born August 10, 1900 – died June 18, 1935) was a French writer. He was an important part of the Surrealist art movement.

A Young Writer's Life

René Crevel was born in Paris, France. His family was part of the middle class in the city. He had a challenging childhood related to his religious upbringing.

René studied literature and law at the University of Paris. He met Tristan Tzara and joined the Dada movement around 1923. Later, he became close friends with André Breton and the Surrealists. In 1923 and 1924, Crevel became friends with American artist Eugene McCown. Through McCown, he met many interesting people like Nancy Cunard and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

His Early Books

Starting in 1924, Crevel began writing novels. Some of his early works include Détours and Mon Corps et moi (which means "My Body and Me"). In these books, he often wrote about his worries and feelings of unease.

In 1926, he published La Mort difficile ("Difficult Death"). This novel featured a character inspired by his friend, Eugene McCown. The book's publication changed their friendship, but Crevel remained close to McCown throughout his life.

Health and Beliefs

Also in 1924, René Crevel was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This illness meant he often had to leave Paris to stay in special hospitals, especially in Switzerland.

In 1929, a political event involving Léon Trotsky made Crevel decide to rejoin the Surrealists. He stayed loyal to André Breton and worked hard to bring together communists and surrealists. He believed in their shared goals for society.

In 1928, during a visit to Berlin, he met Dorothea, the daughter of Carl Sternheim. Much of Crevel's writing explored his strong beliefs as a communist.

Final Years

In June 1935, a big meeting called the "International Congress of Writers for the Defense of Culture" was held in Paris. There was a disagreement between André Breton and Ilya Ehrenburg at this event.

René Crevel, who was a dedicated communist among the Surrealists, spent a whole day trying to help the Surrealists rejoin the discussions. However, he was not successful. He left the Congress very tired. Around this time, he also learned that his tuberculosis had spread to his kidneys. He left a note that showed his deep sadness.

Publications

Original French Books

• Détours (1924)
• Mon Corps et moi (1925)
• La Mort difficile (1926)
• Babylone (1927)
• L'Esprit contre la raison (1928)
• Êtes-vous fous? (1929)
• Le Clavecin de Diderot (1932)
• Les Pieds dans le plat (1933)
• Le Roman cassé et derniers écrits (1934–1935)

English Translations

• My Body and I (translation of Mon Corps et Moi; Archipelago Books, 2005)
• Babylon (translation of Babylone), translated by Kay Boyle, North Point Press, 1985, ISBN: 0-86547-191-6; Sun and Moon Press, 1996)
• Putting My Foot in It (translation of Les Pieds dans le plat; Dalkey Archive Press, 1994)
• Difficult Death (translation of La Mort difficile; Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1986)
• 1830 (Elysium Press, 1996)
• The Noble Mannequin Seeks and Finds her Skin; 1934 (translation from French in The Surrealism Reader); Tate Publishing 2015, ISBN: 9781854376688

See also

In Spanish: René Crevel para niños