Bernard_Clavel Knowpia

Bernard Charles Henri Clavel (29 May 1923 – 5 October 2010^[1]) was a French writer.

Clavel was born in Lons-le-Saunier. From a humble background, he was largely self-educated. He began working as a pastry cook apprentice when he was 14 years old. He later had several jobs until he began working as a journalist in the 1950s. After the war, he worked for the social insurance, and he could not dedicate himself to literature until 1964. He lived and worked in many places, and was living in Savoy at the time of his death.

His first novel was L'Ouvrier de la nuit (Night Worker, 1956). He later published works for young people and numerous novels, at times organised into series: La grande patience (The Great Patience, 4 volumes — 1962–1968), Les Colonnes du ciel (Heaven's Pillars, 5 volumes — 1976–1981), or Le Royaume du nord (Northern Kingdom, 6 volumes — 1983–1989).^[2]

In his writings, he employed simple language and attached importance to humble characters and to the defence of humanist values by questioning violence and war.

He died in Grenoble.

Prizes and memberships edit

Prix Goncourt for Les Fruits de l'hiver: 1968
Member of Académie Goncourt 1971–1977.
Member of Coordination française pour la Décennie de la culture de paix et de non-violence.
Member of Non-Violence XXI group since 2001.

Partial bibliography edit

Cargo pour l'enfer, 1993
Malataverne, 1993
L'Arbre qui chante
Les Roses de Verdun
Collection La Grande Patience
1. La Maison des autres
2. Celui qui voulait voir la mer
3. Le Cœur des vivants
4. Les Fruits de l'hiver
Collection Les Colonnes du ciel
1. La Saison des loups
2. La Lumière du lac
3. La Femme de guerre
4. Marie Bon pain
5. Compagnons du Nouveau Monde
Collection Le Royaume du nord
1. Harricana, 1983
2. L'Or de la terre, 1984
3. Miséréré, 1985
4. Amarok, 1987
5. L'Angélus du soir, 1988
6. Maudits sauvages, 1989