René Émile Char (1907–88) was a French poet and resistance fighter known for his evocative, philosophical verse. Initially associated with Surrealism, he later developed a distinctive style blending lyrical intensity with moral reflection. His works explored war, human dignity, and art’s transformative power, making him one of 20th-century France’s most respected poets.
Born in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France, he studied in Provence before moving to Paris in the late 1920s. Involved with Surrealist writers, he published Le Marteau sans maître (1934,) a collection marked by vivid imagery and verbal experimentation. During World War II, he joined the French Resistance as Captain Alexandre, leading a unit in the Alps. His wartime experiences shaped Feuillets d’Hypnos (1946,) a collection of prose poems reflecting on resistance and resilience.
Char’s poetry is known for brevity, aphoristic wisdom, and paradoxical themes. Other notable works include Seuls demeurent (1945,) Les Matinaux (1950,) and Commune présence (1964.) His Œuvres complètes was published in 1983.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Rene Char
Be grateful to the man who cares nothing for your remorse. You are his equal.
—Rene Char
Topics: Forgiveness
In action be primitive; in foresight, a strategist.
—Rene Char
Topics: Action
Each act is virgin, even the repeated ones.
—Rene Char
Topics: Perspective
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