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Jean d'Ormesson

ジャン・ドルメソン

Jean d'Ormesson

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1925-06-16 （7th arrondissement of Paris, France）
Died
2017-12-05 （Neuilly-sur-Seine, France） age 92
Nationality
French
Languages
French
Religion
Roman Catholic (secular Catholic)
Residence History
Bavaria, Germany → Romania → Brazil → Château de Saint-Fargeau → Paris (birthplace and main base) → Neuilly-sur-Seine (place of death)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Columnist, Reporter, Philosopher, Newspaper director
Active Years
1956-2017
Affiliations
Académie française, International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies (UNESCO), Le Figaro (former director)
Memberships
Académie française

Education

Lycée Henri-IV
Classe préparatoire (preparatory classes)
Country: France
Completed preparatory classes for grandes écoles
École normale supérieure (Paris)
Philosophy
Degree: Agrégation（哲学）
Country: France
Passed the agrégation in Philosophy

Awards

Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
1971
Work: La Gloire de l'Empire (The Glory of the Empire)
Organization: Académie française
Result: 受賞
Member of the Académie française (seat 12)
1973
Organization: Académie française
Result: 選出
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
2014
Organization: French Republic
Result: 叙勲
Ovid Prize
2010
Work: Recognition of body of work
Organization: Romania (Ovid Prize)
Result: 受賞
Prix Jean-Jacques-Rousseau
2016
Work: Je dirai malgré tout que cette vie fut belle
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

La Gloire de l'Empire (The Glory of the Empire)

1971 Novel 692 pages

A sweeping novel blending family history and national history. Explores French past and personal memory; awarded the Grand Prix du roman.

memoryhistoryfamilyempire

Au revoir et merci

1966 Novel

One of his earlier works; contains essayistic narration and elements of humor.

farewellpolitenessreflections on life

Dieu, sa vie, son œuvre

1981 Essay / Religious reflection

A witty yet profound meditation on God and religion; explores the space between faith and secularism.

religionfaithsecularism

C'est une chose étrange à la fin que le monde

2010 Essays / Memoir

One of his later works; a collection of reflections filled with insight and wit about the world and life.

view of lifehumormemory

Bibliography

  • L'Amour est un plaisir (1956)
  • Du côté de chez Jean (1959)
  • Un amour pour rien (1960)
  • Au revoir et merci (1966)
  • Les Illusions de la mer (1968)
  • La Gloire de l'Empire (1971)
  • Au plaisir de Dieu (1974)
  • Dieu, sa vie, son œuvre (1981)
  • C'était bien (2003)
  • C'est une chose étrange à la fin que le monde (2010)
  • Un jour je m'en irai sans en avoir tout dit (2013)

Adaptations

  • Au plaisir de Dieu (television film adaptation)
  • Les saveurs du Palais (Haute Cuisine) — appeared as Le Président (2012 film)
  • Michel Déon ou la force de l'amitié (documentary, 2018)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Elegant, conversational styleEssayistic with touches of humorBlends history with personal memory
Recurring Motifs
memoryhistoryreligion and Godfamily lineagepassage of time

Legacy

Jean d'Ormesson was a leading public figure in France, celebrated for his art of conversation and polished essays. As the dean of the Académie française he held long-standing influence and left a significant mark on French literature and culture.

Academic Societies

  • Académie française

In Popular Culture

  • Known to wider audiences through his appearance in the film Les saveurs du Palais and frequent media presence.
  • In 2017 a national tribute at Les Invalides was held with speeches including one by President Emmanuel Macron.

Quotes

  • "Jean d'Ormesson was the best of the French spirit."
    Source: Emmanuel Macron (tribute speech), 2017 (2017)

Trivia

  • Held the noble title of Count.
  • Elected to seat 12 of the Académie française in 1973.
  • Became the dean (doyen) of the Académie française after 2009.
  • Director of the newspaper Le Figaro from 1974 to 1979.
  • Authored more than forty books in his lifetime.