Memoirs, 1885-1967;

by André Maurois, Denver Lindley (Translator)

Memoirs 1885-1967

Genres: Biography

439 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1914

About the author

André Maurois, born Emile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog, was a French author. André Maurois was a pseudonym that became his legal name in 1947.

During World War I he joined the French army and served as an interpreter and later a liaison officer to the British army. His first novel, Les silences du colonel Bramble, was a witty but socially realistic account of that experience. It was an immediate success in France. It was translated and also became popular in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries as The Silence of Colonel Bramble. Many of his other works have also been translated into English (mainly by Hamish Miles (1894–1937)), as they often dealt with British people or topics, such as his biographies of Disraeli, Byron, and Shelley.

During 1938 Maurois was elected to the prestigious Académie française. Maurois was encouraged and assisted in seeking this post by Marshal Philippe Pétain, and he made a point of acknowleging with thanks his debt to Pétain in his 1941 autobiography, Call no man happy - though by the time of writing, their paths had sharply diverged, Pétain having become Head of State of the Nazi-collaborationist Vichy France.

During World War II he served in the French army and the Free French Forces.

He died during 1967 after a long career as an author of novels, biographies, histories, children's books and science fiction stories. He is buried in the Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery near Paris.

Reviews

[Steve Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maurois was a French Jew born on 1885. This is his autobiography through 1941. It was later edited and integrated into his Memoirs - 1885-1967. Out of great curiosity, I was compelled to read both books simultaneously chapter by chapter. By his own admission, he failed to accurately record the dire situation that France found itself in immediately following the occupation by Germany in summer of 1940. His reworking of this edition was an interesting case of getting a do-over.

Maurois had an enviable education during an era of critical thinking and discourse. After graduating, he was reluctantly brought back to the family woolen mill, where he was destined to one day be a principal. He joined a reserve force for military training during this time, then was called to service when the "War of 1914" broke out. Since he had a minimal knowledge of English, he was appointed as a liaison to the British forces, where he encountered a Lieutenant Colonel Churchill, among others. His great upset was that he could not be in the action at the front with the other soldiers from his hometown unit.

He had wanted to be a writer instead of a manager, and during idle moments he composed a novel about an imaginary Colonel Bramble, a composite of many of the officers he worked with. The humor and humanity of the war made this a popular novel among both British and French readers.

The inter-war years were dominated by bourgeoisie that could not be bothered, resulting in leftist uprisings during the depression. In addition, a poorly thought-out occupation of the Ruhr area by French troops to force German reparations backfired and hastened ramping up German military forces prohibited in the surrender documents.

Maurois was sent to England in 1939 to ascertain their readiness to help in case of an attack. They showed they were on track to have everything ready in 1941. The Germans rolled through Belgium in May 1940.

This volume ends in October 1941 after Maurois had spent almost two years in the US trying to convince them to join the war, not only to save France, but the rest of Europe as well.

There is an interesting note at the end of the book:

Circumstances have decreed that this book should not be published until a year after its completion. During that year, the enormous wheels of Time have turned, the United States has entered the war, the lights of New York have been extinguished, following those of Paris and London. The large shadow which envelops the earth has united us across the oceans. But now, on the fringes of this night, it is possible to perceive the light of dawn. The giant forces of America are made up, not only of plants, planes and tanks, but of courage and of faith.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting account of Europe during the first war and then the time between the wars, concluding with start and the first years of WWII. Sometimes lengthy passages concerning French politic and conflicts between the parties.

[Richa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first autobiography. I do not read them because of a belief that we cannot be totally honest about ourselves. We will, even if unwittingly, cover up or twist a flaw in ourselves, or make it seem like a virtue in disguise when telling about ourselves.
I took up this book to read, completely ignorant about the subject. There were no pointers anywhere. Not on the back jacket, not on goodreads.
So this was an accidental read. Maurois has a flair for writing. His words are simple to understand. He is able to convey what he wants very ablely.

Coming to the story, it seems Monsieur Maurois was an extremely lucky man! I especially liked his childhood. How I wished I had had it...
There is no rags to riches story here. Things seemed to simply click for him most times. I envied that.
It becomes quite monotonous as it progresses.
Moreover, there is nothing 'earth-shattering' happening here. Just a regular life.
I couldn't help but skip certain pages.