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Jacques Chardonne

ジャック・シャルドンヌ

Jacques Chardonne

Aliases: Jacques Boutelleau
Pen Names: Jacques Chardonne（Pseudonym used as a writer (birth name Jacques Boutelleau)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1884-01-02 （Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, Charente, France）
Died
1968-05-29 （La Frette-sur-Seine, France） age 84
Nationality
France
Languages
French
Religion
Protestantism (mother was American Quaker)
Residence History
Barbezieux (birthplace) → Paris (principal place of activity, especially 1930s–1940s) → La Frette-sur-Seine (later residence) → Madeira (associated with his book 'Vivre à Madère')

Career

Occupations
Writer, Novelist, Essayist
Active Years
1910-1968
Affiliations
Groupe de Barbezieux, Groupe Collaboration, Hussards (literary movement)
Memberships
Groupe Collaboration
Influenced
French mid-20th-century writers (authors associated with the Hussards)

Awards

Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
1932
Work: Claire
Organization: Académie française
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

L'Épithalame

1921 Novel / Poetic prose

Published in 1921. Contains epithalamic elements; a poetic-prose work and one of his early notable books.

loveceremonypoetic expression

Claire

1931 Novel

His major novel published in 1931, noted for delicate psychological portraits and relationships; winner of the 1932 Grand Prix du roman.

interpersonal relationshipsemotional nuancesocial milieu
Adaptations
  • [TV film] Claire (TV film) (1986)
Translations
  • Claire

Les Destinées sentimentales (The Sentimental Destinies)

1934 Trilogy (novel)

A trilogy published 1934–1936 (La Femme de Jean Barnery; Pauline; Porcelaine de Limoges). Deals with family, inheritance and love, reflecting connections to his own family background (Haviland porcelain and Delamain cognac ties).

familyinheritancelovelocal identity
Adaptations
  • [Film] Sentimental Destinies / Olivier Assayas (2001)
Translations
  • Sentimental Destinies (trilogy)

Le Bonheur de Barbezieux

1938 Novel / Local writing

A work connected to his native Barbezieux, depicting local life and characters.

homehappinessregional life

Chronique privée (Private Chronicle)

1940 Chronicle / Essays

Published in 1940. Contains records and reflections from the wartime period; its pro-collaboration tone led to postwar criticism and controversy.

wartime recordpolitical stancepersonal reminiscence

Bibliography

  • L'Épithalame (1921)
  • Le Chant du Bienheureux (1927)
  • Les Varais (1929)
  • Eva ou le journal interrompu (1930)
  • Claire (1931)
  • L'Amour du Prochain (1932)
  • Les Destinées sentimentales (La Femme de Jean Barnery / Pauline / Porcelaine de Limoges) (1934–1936)
  • Romanesques (1937)
  • L'Amour, c'est beaucoup plus que l'amour (1937)
  • Le Bonheur de Barbezieux (1938)
  • Chronique privée / Chronique privée de l'an 40 (1940)
  • Voir la Figure - Réflexions sur ce temps (1941)
  • Attachements - Chronique privée (1941)
  • Le Ciel de Nieflheim (1943)
  • Chimériques (1948)
  • Vivre à Madère (1953)
  • Lettres à Roger Nimier et quelques réponses de Roger Nimier (1954)
  • Matinales (1956)
  • Le Ciel dans la fenêtre (1959)
  • Femmes - contes choisis et quelques images (1961)
  • Détachements (1962)
  • Demi-jour - suite et fin du Ciel dans la fenêtre (1964)
  • Catherine (1964)
  • Propos comme ça (1966)

Adaptations

  • Claire — TV adaptation (1986)
  • Les Destinées sentimentales — film adaptation by Olivier Assayas (2001)

Translations of Works

  • Les Destinées sentimentales — translated as 'The Sentimental Destinies' (various editions/translations)
  • Claire — often published under the same title in English ('Claire')

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical, observational prosedetailed psychological depictionrefined, traditional narrative tone
Recurring Motifs
family and inheritancelove and the destiny of emotionsregional identity (Barbezieux, etc.)depictions of upper-class/social strata

Legacy

Jacques Chardonne was a highly regarded French writer of the 1930s, winning the 1932 Grand Prix du roman for 'Claire'. However, his wartime collaborationist stance led to postwar denunciation and imprisonment, making his reputation controversial. In later decades he experienced partial rehabilitation; the Prix Jacques-Chardonne was established in 1986 and several works have been adapted for screen.

Archives

  • Some papers and editions are likely held at the Bibliothèque nationale de France

In Popular Culture

  • TV adaptation of 'Claire' (1986)
  • Olivier Assayas's film adaptation of 'Les Destinées sentimentales' (2001)
  • Prix Jacques-Chardonne (established 1986)

Quotes

  • "[I want] to make [my] body a fraternal bridge between Germany and France."
    Source: Diary entry during the 1941 visit to Germany (Weimar) (1941)

Trivia

  • Born Jacques Boutelleau; 'Jacques Chardonne' is his pen name.
  • His mother was an American Quaker and heiress connected to the Haviland porcelain family.
  • Winner of the 1932 Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française for 'Claire'.
  • Supported collaboration with Vichy during WWII and was denounced and imprisoned after the war.
  • The Prix Jacques-Chardonne, named after him, was established in 1986.