author
Binet-Valmer
1875–1940
A Franco-Swiss novelist and journalist known for psychologically precise characters, Binet-Valmer explored love, identity, and social conventions in fiction that often challenged the norms of his time. His best-known novel, Lucien, became a major French success with 22 printings between 1910 and 1919.
1 Audiobook
Lucien : roman
by Binet-Valmer
About the author
Born Jean-Auguste-Gustave Binet in Geneva on June 3, 1875, he later adopted the pen name Binet-Valmer. The son of a physician, he initially studied medicine before turning to novels, literary reviews, and journalism. He became a French citizen in 1914.
Binet-Valmer’s writing is noted for its careful examination of character psychology and motivation. Several of his novels, especially Lucien, addressed homosexual themes and characters, making his work distinctive in early twentieth-century French literature.
He died in Paris on April 20, 1940. Although he wrote many books, Lucien was his most successful work in France, reaching 22 printings during the decade after its first publication.