author
Jacques Rivière
1886–1925
A sharp-minded French critic and editor, he helped shape the literary life of France after World War I. Best known for leading La Nouvelle Revue Française, he also left behind essays, a novel, and a remarkable correspondence with some of the era’s most important writers.
4 Audiobooks
Études: Baudelaire, Paul Claudel, André Gide, Rameau, Bach, Franck, Wagner, Moussorgsky, Debussy, Ingres, Cézanne, Gauguin
by Jacques Rivière
L'Allemand : souvenirs et réflexions d'un prisonnier de guerre
by Jacques Rivière
De la sincérité envers soi-même
by Jacques Rivière
Aimée
by Jacques Rivière
About the author
Born in Bordeaux on July 15, 1886, Jacques Rivière became one of the most influential literary figures in France in the years after World War I. He was a writer, critic, and editor, and is especially associated with La Nouvelle Revue Française (NRF), which he directed from 1919 until his death in Paris on February 14, 1925.
Rivière was admired for the clarity and intelligence of his criticism. His essays ranged across literature and the arts, and he played an important part in bringing major modern writers to readers, including Marcel Proust. He also wrote fiction, notably the psychological novel Aimé, and is remembered for his correspondence with Alain-Fournier, who became his brother-in-law, as well as for his exchange of letters with Antonin Artaud.
Although he died young, at just 38, Rivière left a lasting mark on French literary culture. His work as an editor was as important as his own writing: he had a gift for recognizing talent, encouraging new work, and helping define the tone of an important literary generation.