Leon Blum

by Jean Lacouture

Chronicles the life of the French Socialist leader, drawing attention to his contributions as a poet and a literary critic as well as his role in the political and cultural development of twentieth-century France

572 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1977

About the author

Jean Lacouture is a journalist, historian and author. He is particularly famous for his biographies.y

Jean Lacouture began his career in journalism in 1950 in "Combat" as diplomatic redactor. He joined Le Monde in 1951. In 1953, he worked in Cairo for France Soir, before returning to Le Monde as director for the overseas services, and grand reporter (the highest title in French journalism) until 1975.

Politically engaged on the Left, Lacouture supported decolonisation, and Mitterrand from 1981. He worked for the Nouvel Observateur, and L'Histoire. He is interviewed in the 1968 documentary film about the Vietnam War entitled "In the Year of the Pig".

Lacouture was also director for publication at Seuil, one of the main French publishers, from 1961 to 1982, and professor at the IEP of Paris between 1969 and 1972.

He is mainly known to the public because of his biographies, including the lives of Ho Chi Minh, Nasser, Léon Blum, De Gaulle, François Mauriac, Pierre Mendès-France, Mitterrand, Montesquieu, Montaigne, Malraux, Germaine Tillion, Champollion, Rivière, Stendhal and Kennedy.

A dedicated music lover, Lacouture is also president of a society of devotees of Georges Bizet.

Reviews

[Tyler Wolanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good biography; a bit of a hurdle to clear at the beginning when Lacouture launches right into turn-of-the-century French politics, but once you are properly oriented, it is easy to follow. Full review at link: https://tylerwolanin.com/blog/2019/6/...