The 1973 Prix Goncourt, awarded to Jacques Chessex for his novel L'Ogre, established a pivotal milestone in his prolific literary career. Born in Payerne in 1934, this Swiss writer, poet, and painter maintained a rigorous output across multiple disciplines throughout his life, ultimately earning broad international recognition, including the status of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.
Early Development and Academic Roots
Chessex began his formal education at Collège Saint-Michel in Fribourg from 1951 to 1953. He subsequently pursued literature studies at the University of Lausanne, completing his academic tenure in 1960. His engagement with the literary community manifested early through the co-founding of the review Pays du Lac in Pully in 1953, followed by the establishment of the review Écriture in Lausanne.
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His bibliography spans poetry, novels, short stories, and epics. Notable accolades include the 1992 Mallarmé Prize for Les Aveugles du seul regard and the 1999 Grand Prix de la langue française. In 2007, he received the Grand Prix Jean Giono for his collective body of work. His novel L'Ogre, published in 1973, was later translated as A Father's Love in 1975 and reissued as The Tyrant in 2012.
Professional Engagement and Final Works
Beyond writing, he served as a professor of French literature at the Gymnase de la Cité in Lausanne beginning in 1969. His later work included the 2008 novel Un Juif pour l'exemple, which explored the 1942 death of Arthur Bloch in Payerne. He was also active as a critic and commentator on painting, with numerous editorials published on figures such as Antonio Saura and Zao Wou-Ki.
Death and Legacy
Chessex died on 9 October 2009 in Yverdon-les-Bains. He suffered a fatal heart attack during a public discussion regarding his novel The Confession of Father Burg and his public support for director Roman Polanski. His extensive literary estate remains preserved within the Swiss Literary Archives in Bern.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Payerne
- Died: 2009, Yverdon-les-Bains
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Primary Occupations: writer, poet, painter, novelist
- Education: University of Lausanne
- Major Literary Award: Prix Goncourt (1973)
- Religion: reformed
- Language: French
Questions readers ask
What was the subject of the book A Jew Must Die?
It examines the 1942 killing of a cattle trader named Arthur Bloch by Swiss Nazis in Payerne.
What specific events preceded his death?
He collapsed from a heart attack during a public discussion concerning his novel The Confession of Father Burg and his stance on Roman Polanski.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Sade Prize — 2010
- Mallarmé Prize — 1992
- Notable work: A Father's Love
