Pierre Drieu La Rochelle

Pierre Drieu La Rochelle was a French writer, novelist, and essayist known for his complex and often contradictory views on politics, literature, and philosophy. He was associated with the Nouvelle Revue Française and was influenced by the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Henri Bergson. Drieu La Rochelle's life and work were shaped by his experiences in World War I, which he fought in alongside Ernest Hemingway and André Breton. He was also friends with Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus, and was influenced by the Existentialism movement.

● Early Life and Education

Drieu La Rochelle was born in Paris, France to a family of bourgeoisie descent. He studied at the Lycée Carnot and later at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, where he was influenced by the teachings of Émile Durkheim and Georges Sorel. He also attended the University of Paris, where he studied philosophy and literature under the guidance of Henri Bergson and Léon Brunschvicg. During his time at university, he became friends with Dada artists such as Tristan Tzara and Marcel Duchamp, and was influenced by the Dadaism movement. He also developed an interest in politics and was influenced by the works of Georges Sorel and Charles Maurras.

● Literary Career

Drieu La Rochelle began his literary career as a poet and essayist, publishing his first collection of poems, Interrogation, in 1917. He later turned to writing novels, publishing his first novel, L'Homme couvert de femmes, in 1925. His most famous novel, Gilles, was published in 1939 and explores themes of identity, morality, and politics. He was also a prominent literary critic and published numerous essays on literature and philosophy in journals such as the Nouvelle Revue Française and La Revue des Deux Mondes. His work was influenced by the Modernism movement and he was friends with writers such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and T.S. Eliot.

● Political Views and Activism

Drieu La Rochelle's political views were complex and often contradictory. He was initially a supporter of the French Third Republic and served in World War I as a lieutenant in the French Army. However, he later became disillusioned with the republic and began to support the fascist movement. He was influenced by the works of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, and published numerous essays on fascism and nationalism in journals such as La Revue des Deux Mondes and Je suis partout. He was also a member of the French Popular Party and was friends with politicians such as Marcel Déat and Jacques Doriot. His political views were criticized by writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, who were opposed to fascism and nationalism.

● World War II and Later Life

During World War II, Drieu La Rochelle supported the Vichy France regime and published numerous essays on collaborationism and anti-Semitism. He was a member of the Collaborationist government and worked closely with politicians such as Philippe Pétain and Pierre Laval. However, he later became disillusioned with the Vichy regime and began to support the French Resistance. He was friends with resistance fighters such as Jean Moulin and André Dewavrin, and published numerous essays on resistance and liberation in journals such as Les Lettres Françaises and La Revue des Deux Mondes. He died in 1945 at the age of 52, shortly after the Liberation of Paris.

● Works and Legacy

Drieu La Rochelle's works include numerous novels, essays, and poems. His most famous novel, Gilles, is considered a classic of French literature and has been translated into numerous languages. He also published numerous essays on literature, philosophy, and politics, and was a prominent literary critic. His work has been influential to writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir, and he is considered one of the most important French writers of the 20th century. His legacy is complex and often contradictory, reflecting his complex and often contradictory views on politics, literature, and philosophy. He is remembered as a prominent figure in French literary history and his work continues to be studied and debated by scholars and writers around the world, including those associated with the University of Paris, the Sorbonne, and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales.