Jean Grosjean
Encyclopedia
Jean Grosjean was a French poet, writer
and translator.
in 1933. After military service in Lebanon
he travelled throughout the Middle East, to Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq. He was ordained as a priest in 1939, and then mobilized. Imprisoned in 1940, he met André Malraux
, Claude Gallimard and Roger Judrin during his captivity in Pomerania
and Brandenburg
, companions who remained close friends for the rest of his life.
It was in the "Metamorphoses" by Jean Paulhan
, published by Gallimard in 1946, that the first of his works appeared, ‘Terre du temps ‘, a series of poetic notes. Remaining faithful to his publisher, he participated very actively in the life of the Nouvelle Revue francaise
with Marcel Arland
, Dominique Aury and later Georges Lambrichs.
In 1950, he left the priesthood, married and bought a property at Avant-lès-Marcilly
, in the Aube
, where he spent most of his time. He now found himself working mostly on translations of Aeschylus
and Sophocles
, Shakespeare, the Koran and the Bible.
In 1989 he created, along with Jean-Marie Le Clézio, the collection "L'Aube des peuples".
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and translator.
Overview
After a childhood in the provinces, he became an engineering fitter. He entered the seminary of Saint Sulpice in Issy-les-MoulineauxIssy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
in 1933. After military service in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
he travelled throughout the Middle East, to Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq. He was ordained as a priest in 1939, and then mobilized. Imprisoned in 1940, he met André Malraux
André Malraux
André Malraux DSO was a French adventurer, award-winning author, and statesman. Having traveled extensively in Indochina and China, Malraux was noted especially for his novel entitled La Condition Humaine , which won the Prix Goncourt...
, Claude Gallimard and Roger Judrin during his captivity in Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
and Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, companions who remained close friends for the rest of his life.
It was in the "Metamorphoses" by Jean Paulhan
Jean Paulhan
Jean Paulhan was a French writer, literary critic and publisher, director of the literary magazine Nouvelle Revue Française from 1925 to 1940 and from 1946 to 1968. He was a member of the Académie Française...
, published by Gallimard in 1946, that the first of his works appeared, ‘Terre du temps ‘, a series of poetic notes. Remaining faithful to his publisher, he participated very actively in the life of the Nouvelle Revue francaise
Nouvelle Revue Française
La Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals, including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger...
with Marcel Arland
Marcel Arland
Marcel Arland , was a French novelist, literary critic, and journalist.-Life:...
, Dominique Aury and later Georges Lambrichs.
In 1950, he left the priesthood, married and bought a property at Avant-lès-Marcilly
Avant-lès-Marcilly
Avant-lès-Marcilly is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-Demographics:-References:*...
, in the Aube
Aube
Aube is a department in the northeastern part of France named after the Aube River. In 1995, its population was 293,100 inhabitants.- History :Aube is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, where he spent most of his time. He now found himself working mostly on translations of Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
and Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
, Shakespeare, the Koran and the Bible.
In 1989 he created, along with Jean-Marie Le Clézio, the collection "L'Aube des peuples".
Poetry
- Terre du temps (Gallimard, 1946, prix de la Pléiade)
- Hypostases (Gallimard, 1950)
- Le Livre du Juste (Gallimard, 1952)
- Fils de l'Homme (Gallimard, 1954, Prix Max Jacob)
- Majestés et Passants (Gallimard, 1956)
- Austrasie (Gallimard,1960)
- Apocalypse (Gallimard, 1962)
- Hiver (Gallimard, 1964)
- Élégies (Gallimard, 1967, prix des Critiques)
- La Gloire, précédé de Apocalypse, Hiver et Élégies (Poésie/Gallimard, 1969)
- La Lueur des jours (Gallimard, 1991)
- Nathanaël (Gallimard, 1996)
- Cantilènes (Gallimard, 1998)
- Les Vasistas (Gallimard, 2000)
- Les Parvis (Gallimard, 2003)
- La Rumeur des cortèges (Gallimard, 2005)
- Arpèges et paraboles (Gallimard, 2007)
Prose
- Clausewitz (Gallimard, 1972)
- Le Messie (Gallimard, 1974)
- Les Beaux Jours (Gallimard, 1980)
- Élie (Gallimard, 1982)
- Darius (Gallimard, 1983)
- Pilate (Gallimard, 1983)
- Jonas (Gallimard, 1985)
- Kleist (Gallimard, 1985)
- La Reine de Saba (Gallimard, 1987)
- Samson (Gallimard, 1988)
- Samuel (Gallimard, 1994)
- Adam et Ève (Gallimard, 1997)
- Les Parvis (Gallimard, 2003)
Translations
- La Bible. Le Nouveau Testament, éd. et trad. par Jean Grosjean, Michel Léturmy et Paul Gros (Gallimard, coll. Bibliothèque de la Pléiade, 1971)
- Le Coran (Ph. Lebaud, 1979)
- L’Ironie christique – commentaire de l’Évangile selon Jean (Gallimard, 1991)
- Lecture de l’Apocalypse (Gallimard, 1994)
- Les Versets de la sagesse (Ph. Lebaud, 1996)
Biography
- Jean Grosjean by Jean-Luc Maxence (Seghers, coll. Poètes d'aujourd'hui, 2005)
- Jean Grosjean ou Les Saisond de la foi by Alain Bosquet(Nouvelle Revue Français n°174,1967)
- Où passent les anges... by Anne Debeaux(Nouvelle Revue Français n°389,Paris,1985)
- L'Entretien des Muses,Paris,Gallimard.1968 by Phillippe Jaccottet.