Origins & Early Life

François Charles Mauriac (French: [fʁɑ̃swa ʃaʁl(ə) moʁjak]; Occitan: Francés Carles Mauriac; 11 October 1885 – 1 September 1970) was a French novelist, dramatist, critic, poet, and journalist, a member of the Académie française (from 1933), and laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1952). He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur in 1958. François Charles Mauriac was born on 11 October 1885 in Bordeaux, France. He studied literature at the University of Bordeaux, graduating in 1905, after which he moved to Paris and briefly studied at the École des Chartes in 1908.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

On 1 June 1933, he was elected a member of the Académie française, succeeding Eugène Brieux. A former Action française supporter, he turned to the left during the Spanish Civil War, criticising the Catholic Church for its support of Franco. After the fall of France to the Axis during the Second World War, he briefly supported the collaborationist régime of Marshal Pétain, but joined the Resistance as early as December 1941. He was the only member of the Académie française to publish a Resistance text with the Editions de Minuit. Mauriac had a bitter dispute with...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alban Berg — Contemporary (Born in 1885) (1885): Key figure of the Second Viennese School, blending Romanticism with twelve-tone technique.
• D. H. Lawrence — Contemporary (Born in 1885) (1885): Modernist English writer, poet, and essayist championing instinct and sexuality.
• Edna Ferber — Contemporary (Born in 1885) (1885): Pioneering American novelist celebrated for sweeping tales of life and passion.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Andre Agassi — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): American former professional tennis player, known for his dramatic career arc and longevity.
• Amitabh Bachchan — Shared historical date (10-11 · Born) (1942): Iconic figure of Hindi cinema, celebrated for versatility and enduring stardom.
• Angela Lansbury — Shared historical date (10-11 · Died) (2022): Iconic British-American actress and singer with an 80-year career.
• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Shared historical date (09-01 · Born) (1896): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Shared historical date (09-01 · Died) (1935): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• 1885 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1885
• October 11 (10-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 11
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• September 1 (09-01) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 1