'A book that writes itself'

 

“Ourlife is a book that writes itself and whose principal themes sometimes escapeus. We are like characters in a novel who do not always understand what theauthor wants of them.” – Julien Green

The first non-French national (he’sAmerican) to be admitted to the famed Académie Française, Green was born onthis date in 1900 to American parents living in France.  After spending time in America in his lateteens, he returned to France and in 1922 – after a false start as a painter –began a nearly 80-year career as a writer.

 

By 1927 he had established himself onFrance’s literary scene only to leave at the outbreak of World War II, whichonce again drove him to the U.S.  Duringthe war, he played a major role in the United States Office of War Information,becoming the “French” voice for Voice of America’s war efforts. 

 

Following the war, he wrote numerousessays on faith and religion but is most noted for his 19-volume diary.  Spanning 80 years (until his death in 1998)the diary provided the world with a unique window on the artistic and literaryscene in Paris.  Its popularity was, hesaid, based on his free form and spontaneous writing style, folksy and highlyreadable.

 

 “The secret is to write just anything, to dare towrite just anything,” he said,  “becausewhen you write just anything, you begin to say what is important.”

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