Malraux, André

(1901-1976)

   writer

   An archaeologist, art theorist, political activist, and public official, as well as a novelist, André Malraux, whose writings are major contributions to 20th-century culture, was born in Paris, where he studied oriental languages. His early writings were inspired by surrealism (Lunes en papier, 1921; Royaume-Farfelu, 1928). In 1923, he went to indochina as an archaeologist and soon became involved in the Annamese revolutionary struggle against French colonial rule. He remained in the orient until 1927 and used his experiences there as material for three other novels: Les Conquérants (1928), La Voie royale (1931), and La Condition humaine (1931), for which he won the prix Goncourt and international repute. in his next novel, Le Tempts de mépris (1935), inspired by a visit to Germany, he denounced Nazism. soon after, he served as a pilot with a Loyalist air squadron in spain, and his experiences there became the basis for his next work, L'Espoir (1937). During World War ii, Malraux served in the French army, was captured, and, upon his escape, became a colonel in the resistance. He was recaptured, but escaped again and in 1945 joined the provisional government of General charles de gaulle. He served as minister for cultural affairs (1959-69), and then retired to a suburb of Paris to write until his death.