Civilization, 1914-1917

Georges Duhamel (1884-1966), was a French author. Between 1906 and 1909 he founded l'Abbaye de Créteil with Charles Vildrac. The group brought together poets, writers, musicians and painters. From 1912, he became an editor of the literary review Mercure de France. He trained as a doctor, and during World War I worked as an army surgeon for four years. This painful experience provided the subject matter for two narratives, Vie des Martyrs (1917) and Civilization (which won him the prix Goncourt in 1918). Once he returned to civilian life, Duhamel dedicated himself to literature. In 1920, he published Confession de Minuit, the first of a series featuring the anti-hero Salavin. He travelled to many conferences in France and abroad, speaking brilliantly of French language and culture as well as promoting the idea of a civilisation built on the human heart rather than technological progress. In 1935, he was elected to the 30th chair at the Académie Française. During World War II Duhamel's work was banned by the Germans. After the war, Duhamel was named president of the Alliance Française and returned to his public speaking.