Jean-Pierre Maxence
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Maxence was a French
writer who was one of the so-called Non-conformists of the 1930s
. Maxence was a leading figure within the so-called Jeune Droite tendency and was associated with other Catholic
writers such as Jean de Fabrègues and René Vincent.
Born in Paris
as Pierre Godmé he adopted his name after a character in Ernest Psichari's book Le Voyage du centurion. He was close to the Action française
without ever actually joining the group and also wrote for the neo-Thomist La Gazette Francais. He did not come to prominence until the 1930s when he wrote on myriad topics for the various reviews produced by the non-conformists. He was at this time a member of Solidarité Française
, albeit a fairly inactive one. He was critical of the far right
group of writers based around the newspaper Je suis partout
and had a personal hatred of Germany
, although he was equally disdainful of Léon Blum
. A devout Roman Catholic, his own writings revealed an empathy towards a fascism
rooted firmly in Catholicism, effectively a French version of Rexism
. He felt that democracy
in France was having a stagnating effect in contrast to what he perceived as the dynaims of Europe's dictatorships and accused the French government of seeking "to transform France into an insurance company" instead of embracing the adventurist spirit of fascism. From 1933 up to the war his main polemical outlet was his regular column, ostensibly about literary criticism
, in the journal Gringoire
.
Maxence was taken to Oflag II-D
in 1940 before being allowed to return to France the following year. Once back home Maxence became reconciled to Vichy France
and took up his pen in support of the rule of Philippe Pétain
. However alongside this he also undertook work for Jewish charities during the Second World War, once again demonstrating his duplicitous relationship to mainstream far right opinion in France. His public support for Vichy meant that he fell under a cloud after the war and he went into exile in Switzerland
where he became director of Centre Supérieure de Philosophie in Geneva
. He remained in Geneva until his death.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
writer who was one of the so-called Non-conformists of the 1930s
Non-conformists of the 1930s
The Non-Conformists of the 1930s refers to a nebula of groups and individuals during the inter-war period in France which was looking for new solutions to face the political, economical and social crisis. The name was coined in 1969 by the historian Jean-Louis Loubet del Bayle to describe a...
. Maxence was a leading figure within the so-called Jeune Droite tendency and was associated with other Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
writers such as Jean de Fabrègues and René Vincent.
Born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as Pierre Godmé he adopted his name after a character in Ernest Psichari's book Le Voyage du centurion. He was close to the Action française
Action Française
The Action Française , founded in 1898, is a French Monarchist counter-revolutionary movement and periodical founded by Maurice Pujo and Henri Vaugeois and whose principal ideologist was Charles Maurras...
without ever actually joining the group and also wrote for the neo-Thomist La Gazette Francais. He did not come to prominence until the 1930s when he wrote on myriad topics for the various reviews produced by the non-conformists. He was at this time a member of Solidarité Française
Solidarité Française
Solidarité Française was a French far right league founded in 1933 by perfume manufacturer François Coty and commanded by Major Jean Renaud, they dressed in blue shirts, black berets, and jackboots, and shouted the slogan "France for the French"...
, albeit a fairly inactive one. He was critical of the far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
group of writers based around the newspaper Je suis partout
Je suis partout
Je suis partout was a French newspaper founded by Jean Fayard, first published on 29 November 1930. It was placed under the direction of Pierre Gaxotte until 1939...
and had a personal hatred of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, although he was equally disdainful of Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
. A devout Roman Catholic, his own writings revealed an empathy towards a fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
rooted firmly in Catholicism, effectively a French version of Rexism
Rexism
Rexism was a fascist political movement in the first half of the 20th century in Belgium.It was the ideology of the Rexist Party , officially called Rex, founded in 1930 by Léon Degrelle, a Walloon...
. He felt that democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in France was having a stagnating effect in contrast to what he perceived as the dynaims of Europe's dictatorships and accused the French government of seeking "to transform France into an insurance company" instead of embracing the adventurist spirit of fascism. From 1933 up to the war his main polemical outlet was his regular column, ostensibly about literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
, in the journal Gringoire
Gringoire (newspaper)
Gringoire was a political and literary weekly newspaper in France, founded in 1928 by Horace de Carbuccia , Georges Suarez and Joseph Kessel....
.
Maxence was taken to Oflag II-D
Oflag II-D
Oflag II-D was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp located at Gross Born, Pomerania...
in 1940 before being allowed to return to France the following year. Once back home Maxence became reconciled to Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
and took up his pen in support of the rule of Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
. However alongside this he also undertook work for Jewish charities during the Second World War, once again demonstrating his duplicitous relationship to mainstream far right opinion in France. His public support for Vichy meant that he fell under a cloud after the war and he went into exile in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where he became director of Centre Supérieure de Philosophie in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. He remained in Geneva until his death.