René Barjavel
René Barjavel was a notable French author, journalist, and critic born in 1911. He is recognized as one of the pioneering figures in French science fiction, having published his first novel, *Ravage*, in 1943 against the backdrop of World War II. His literary works often explore themes of love, the decline of civilizations, and the impact of modernity on society. Over his prolific career, Barjavel wrote more than twenty-five books, with many of his works gaining translation into English during the 1960s and 1970s. Among his most famous novels is *La Nuit des temps*, released in 1968, which enjoyed significant popularity in France. The English translation, titled *The Ice People*, recounts the discovery of two individuals from an advanced civilization frozen in an Antarctic cryogenic chamber, though some nuances from the original French text were reportedly lost in translation. Barjavel's contributions to literature have left a lasting legacy in the realm of science fiction. He passed away in the mid-1980s from a heart attack.
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René Barjavel
Writer
- Born: January 24, 1911
- Birthplace: Nyons, la Drôme, France
- Died: November 25, 1985
- Place of death: Paris, France
Biography
Born in France in 1911 as the son of a baker, René Barjavel was one of the first French science-fiction authors. He was also known as a critic and a journalist. He was educated at the Collèges de Nyons et de Cusset. He worked a variety of jobs early in his life. In 1929, Barjavel started writing for the Progrès de l’Allier. He married Madeleine de Wattripont in 1935. The couple had two children.
Barjavel’s first novel, Ravage, published in 1943 during the German occupation of France, focuses on a company based on the value of work and the refusal of modernity. His fiction often deals with failing civilizations and love. Barjavel published more than twenty-five works over the period from 1934 to 1985. Some of Barkavel’s works were translated into English during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Barjavel’s novel La Nuit des temps, published in 1968, was a huge success in France. However the resulting translation into English, The Ice People, while considered very good, lost some of the French edition’s clarity, continuity and psychology. The Ice People tells the story of an Antarctic exploration team that discovers a couple frozen in a cryogenic chamber who are the survivors of an advanced civilization.
Barjavel died in the mid-1980’s of a heart attack.