Origins & Early Life

Roger Martin du Gard (French: [ʁɔʒe maʁtɛ̃ dy ɡaʁ]; 23 March 1881 – 22 August 1958) was a French novelist, winner of the 1937 Nobel Prize in Literature. Trained as a paleographer and archivist, he brought to his works a spirit of objectivity and a scrupulous regard for detail, and because of his concern with documentation and the relationship of social reality to individual development, his fiction has been linked with the realist and naturalist traditions of the 19th century. His sympathy for the humanist socialism and pacifism of Jean Jaurès is evident in his work. He is best known for The Thibaults, a multi-volume roman fleuve which follows the fortunes of two brothers, Antoine and Jacques Thibault, from their upbringing in a prosperous Catholic bourgeois family to the end of the World War I.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Six parts of the novel were published between 1922 and 1929. After abandoning a seventh volume in manuscript, he published two more volumes in 1936 and 1940. Written under the shadow of the darkening international situation in Europe in the 1930s, these last parts, which together are longer than the previous six combined, focus on the political and historical situation leading...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Fleming — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering microbiologist known for the discovery of penicillin, revolutionizing medicine.
• Alexander II of Russia — Contemporary (Died in 1881) (1881): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Béla Bartók — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist of the 20th century.
• Alec Baldwin — Contemporary (Born in 1958) (1958): Versatile American actor known for dramatic depth and comedic timing.
• Andie MacDowell — Contemporary (Born in 1958) (1958): Acclaimed American actress and model known for romantic and dramatic roles.
• Andre Geim — Contemporary (Born in 1958) (1958): Pioneering physicist known for groundbreaking work on graphene and Nobel laureate.
• Akira Kurosawa — Shared historical date (03-23 · Born) (1910): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Ama Ata Aidoo — Shared historical date (03-23 · Born) (1942): Pioneering Ghanaian writer, poet, and academician celebrated for feminist themes.
• Alexander Bogdanov — Shared historical date (08-22 · Born) (1873): Polymath philosopher, pioneer of blood transfusion, and key Bolshevik revolutionary.
• Bartholomew Gosnold — Shared historical date (08-22 · Died) (1607): English barrister, explorer, and privateer key to Virginia's founding.
• 1881 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1881
• March 23 (03-23) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 23
• 1958 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1958
• August 22 (08-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 22