Camil Petrescu
Encyclopedia
Camil Petrescu was a Romania
n playwright
, novelist, philosopher and poet
. He marked the end of the traditional novel era and laid the foundation of the modern novel era.
Petrescu went to primary school at Obor
, and to high school at Saint Sava National College
, where he wrote his very first poem. Being very poor, he studied assiduously, worked to support himself, and relatively late—at the age of 29—he began his studies in philosophy at the University of Bucharest
. His antisemitism is controversial, having Jewish friends such as Mihail Sebastian
.
In 1916, Petrescu was drafted and sent to the battlefields of then raging World War I
, where he was wounded and taken prisoner by the Austro-Hungarians
. Freed in 1918, he depicted his war experiences in his 1930 novel Ultima noapte de dragoste, întâia noapte de război ("The Last Night of Love, the First Night of War"). In 1933, Petrescu wrote the novel Patul lui Procust ("Procrustes's Bed"). He was a teacher in Timişoara
, and director of the National Theater Bucharest. He was also a member of the Romanian Academy
from 1947.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, novelist, philosopher and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He marked the end of the traditional novel era and laid the foundation of the modern novel era.
Life
Camil Petrescu lost both his parents early in life and was raised by a relative (or a nanny from the Moşilor suburb; the sources remain quite unclear on this).Petrescu went to primary school at Obor
Obor
Obor is the name of a square and the surrounding district of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. There is also a Bucharest Metro station named Obor, which lies in this area....
, and to high school at Saint Sava National College
Saint Sava National College
The Saint Sava National College is the oldest and one of the most prestigious high schools in Bucharest, Romania....
, where he wrote his very first poem. Being very poor, he studied assiduously, worked to support himself, and relatively late—at the age of 29—he began his studies in philosophy at the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
. His antisemitism is controversial, having Jewish friends such as Mihail Sebastian
Mihail Sebastian
-Life:Sebastian was born to a Jewish family in Brăila. After finishing his secondary studies, Sebastian went on to study law in Bucharest, but was soon attracted to the literary life and the exciting ideas of the new generation of Romanian intellectuals, as epitomized by the literary group...
.
In 1916, Petrescu was drafted and sent to the battlefields of then raging World War I
Romanian Campaign (World War I)
The Romanian Campaign was part of the Balkan theatre of World War I, with Romania and Russia allied against the armies of the Central Powers. Fighting took place from August 1916 to December 1917, across most of present-day Romania, including Transylvania, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian...
, where he was wounded and taken prisoner by the Austro-Hungarians
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. Freed in 1918, he depicted his war experiences in his 1930 novel Ultima noapte de dragoste, întâia noapte de război ("The Last Night of Love, the First Night of War"). In 1933, Petrescu wrote the novel Patul lui Procust ("Procrustes's Bed"). He was a teacher in Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
, and director of the National Theater Bucharest. He was also a member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
from 1947.
Works
- Patul lui Procust ("Procrustes's Bed")
- Ultima noapte de dragoste, întâia noapte de război ("The Last Night of Love, the First Night of War")
- Doctrina substanţei ("The Doctrine of Substance") - philosophy - 1940
Filmography
- Patul lui Procust (2001) - Bed of Procust, Procust's Bed (2001, International English title - it is not known why this title was chosen when the reference in the original Romanian title is to the mythical ProcrustesProcrustesIn Greek mythology Procrustes or "the stretcher [who hammers out the metal]", also known as Prokoptas or Damastes "subduer", was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who physically attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size of an iron bed...
) - Cei care plătesc cu viaţa (1991) aka Those Who Pay with Their Lives (1991)
- Mitică Popescu (1984) (play)
- Iată femeia pe care o iubesc (1981) (TV) (play)
- Ultima noapte de dragoste (1979) (novel Ultima noapte de dragoste, întîia noapte de război) - The Last Night of Love, First Night Of War (1979)