The publication of the poetry collection L'Empire et la Trappe in 1930 marked the formal literary debut of Jacques Audiberti, a figure who would later become a multifaceted French writer and playwright. Born in Antibes in 1899, he navigated diverse roles including journalist and diarist, while engaging with themes centered on the recurring tension between good and evil.
Early Development and Journalism
The son of master mason Louis Audiberti and his wife Victorine, Audiberti attended school in Antibes before health concerns forced an interruption. Between 1918 and 1924, he served as a clerk at the Commercial Court. Relocating to Paris in 1925, he began a journalism career, writing for Le Journal and later Le Petit Parisien. During this period, he encountered the Surrealism movement, although he never formally joined it, and frequently visited the National Library.
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Audiberti's poetry gained significant traction with the release of Race des hommes in 1937, which earned the Mallarmé Prize the following year. Throughout his career, he explored philosophical conflicts in his writing, a tendency that aligned him with the Theatre of the Absurd. He also engaged with academic and literary circles, meeting figures such as Paul Valéry and Jean Cocteau. In 1944, the Académie Française recognized his contributions with the Prix Jean-Reynaud.
Theatrical Innovation and Abhumanism
Starting in 1946, Audiberti premiered numerous plays and exhibitions of his gouaches. By 1952, he collaborated with Italian writer Beniamino Joppolo and painter Camille Bryen to develop a creative concept termed abhumanism. His theater work reached a notable turning point in 1962, when the premiere of La Fourmi dans le corps at the Comédie-Française sparked public controversy. His literary output remained consistent until his death, capped by the Grand prix national des Lettres in 1964.
Fast facts
- Born: 1899, Antibes, France
- Died: 1965, 5th arrondissement of Paris
- Spouse: Élisabeth-Cécile-Amélie Savane
- Award: Grand prix national des Lettres (1964)
- Award: Mallarmé Prize (1937)
- Notable role: Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Burial site: Cimetière de Pantin
- Professional debut: L'Empire et la Trappe (1930)
Questions readers ask
What professional activities did Jacques Audiberti pursue?
He worked as a writer, poet, playwright, journalist, autobiographer, and diarist, contributing to various publications including Comœdia and Le Petit Parisien.
Where is Jacques Audiberti buried?
He is interred in the Cimetière de Pantin, located in the Ile-de-France region, France.
Achievements
- Mallarmé Prize — 1937
- Officer of the Legion of Honour
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