Bernanos, Georges

(1888-1948)

   writer

   Born in Neuilly-sur-seine, Georges Bernanos began his career in journalism as a militant supporter of the action française and soon undertook a strong critique of politics, vehemently denouncing the moral bankruptcy of the French bourgeoisie (La Grande Peur des bien-pensants, 1930). At first supportive of the Falangist uprisings in spain, he eventually spoke against the collusion of the church with Francisco Franco and with charles maurras (Les Grandes Cimetèries sous la lune, 1938; Nous autres Français, 1939), then against the vichy regime (Lettre aux Anglais, 1941, written during his stay in Brazil, 1940-45), which made Bernanos one of the moving spirits of the resistance. He later spent time in Tunisia (1946-48) and there wrote the play Dialogues des carmélites (posthumous, 1949), a forceful statement of the theme of anguish and the loss of virtue. Coming late to literature (1926), Bernanos, over a period of 10 years, composed the essential parts of his important works of fiction (especially during his stay in Palma, Majorca, 1934-37). A realist and visionary, he advocated the pursuit of spiritual rather than material goals. His devotion to Roman Catholicism and his mysticism are also clearly evident in his other writings, which include Sous le soleil de Satan, 1926; L'Imposture, 1928; Le Joré, 1929; Le Journal d'un curé de campagne, 1936, one of his best-known works; Monsieur Ouine, 1933-46; and La Nouvelle Histoire de Mouchette, 1937. His motion picture scenario for Dialogues des carmélites was the basis for the successful opera of the same name by francis poulenc (1957).