Les Champs Magnétiques, published in 1920, stands as the first sustained experiment in automatic writing, co-authored by Philippe Soupault and André Breton. This seminal text served as a foundational pillar for the Surrealist movement in Paris, cementing his status as a central figure in the avant-garde landscape of early twentieth-century French literature.
Early Literary Involvement
Born in 1897 in Chaville, Soupault quickly engaged with the radical artistic shifts of his time. In 1919, he collaborated with André Breton and Louis Aragon to initiate the periodical Littérature, a project widely regarded as the catalyst for Surrealism. His early creative output included poetry collections such as Aquarium in 1917 and Rose des vents in 1919. Beyond poetry, he explored fiction with works like Le Bon Apôtre in 1923 and the 1928 novel Les Dernières Nuits de Paris, which was later translated as Last Nights of Paris.
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In 1933, Soupault met Ré Richter at the Soviet Embassy in Paris, initiating a long-term professional and personal partnership. They conducted international reportage across Germany, Switzerland, England, Scandinavia, and Tunisia, pairing his literary texts with her photography. During this period, Soupault served as director of Radio Tunis from 1937 until 1940. His wartime experience was marked by his arrest by the pro-Vichy regime and subsequent imprisonment by Nazi forces in Tunis.
Exile and Later Career
Following their escape to Algiers and a subsequent move to the United States, Soupault held a teaching position at Swarthmore College. He returned to France in October 1945. His later work included the 1957 libretto for Germaine Tailleferre’s opera La Petite Sirène and a series of autobiographical writings titled Mémoires de l'oubli. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Grand prix de littérature de la SGDL in 1973 and the Grand prix national des Lettres in 1977.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Chaville
- Died: 1990, 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Movement: Dada and Surrealism
- Burial site: Montmartre Cemetery
- Academic employer: Swarthmore College
- Notable 1920 work: Les Champs Magnétiques
- 1981 award: Saint-Simon Award
Questions readers ask
What was Philippe Soupault's role in the Surrealist movement?
He co-founded the periodical Littérature and co-authored Les Champs Magnétiques, the first book of automatic writing.
Did Soupault write for theater or opera?
Yes, in 1957 he wrote the libretto for Germaine Tailleferre's opera La Petite Sirène.
Achievements
- Notable work: Les Champs Magnétiques
- Genres: poetry and essay
