- Listenly
- Public Library
- All Authors
- René Benjamin
author
René Benjamin
1885–1948
Best remembered as a sharp-eyed French novelist and journalist, he won the Prix Goncourt early in his career and became known for lively, often satirical portraits of people and society. His writing mixes observation, wit, and a strong feel for the literary life of France in the first half of the twentieth century.
1 Audiobook
La farce de la Sorbonne
by René Benjamin
About the author
Born in 1885, René Benjamin was a French writer, journalist, and lecturer whose work ranged across novels, essays, criticism, and biographical writing. He became widely known after winning the Prix Goncourt in 1915 for Gaspard, a book shaped by the experience of the First World War.
Over the years, he built a reputation for energetic prose and a taste for vivid character sketches. He wrote about public figures as well as ordinary life, and his books often show a satirical streak alongside a strong interest in contemporary culture and politics.
Benjamin remained an active presence in French letters for decades, publishing steadily and speaking publicly as well as writing. He died in 1948, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both the literary world and the social tensions of his time.