Malraux, André << mal ROH, ahn DRAY >> (1901-1976), was a French author who combined intellectual achievement with political activity. He was born on Nov. 30, 1901, in Paris. From 1923 to 1927, he traveled in the Far East as a student of archaeology, Asian languages, and art. While there, Malraux became involved in local revolutionary struggles for freedom. In the 1930’s, he participated in the struggles against Nazism in Germany, and Fascism in Spain. In World War II, he fought with the French resistance forces against the Germans. Malraux served as France‘s first secretary of cultural affairs, from 1959 to 1969.
Malraux’s novels reflect his involvement in battles for freedom. However, his books are not autobiographical. Malraux’s fiction explores humanity’s devotion to ideals. He wanted art “to give men a consciousness of their own hidden greatness.” His style is simple, concise, and fact-filled. But it may burst into poetic imagery and suggests our solitude and everpresent sense of death. His best novels include The Royal Way (1930), Man’s Fate (1933), Days of Wrath (1935), and Man’s Hope (1937). Malraux also wrote The Voices of Silence (1951) and other important works on art that compare works of different periods and civilizations. He died on Nov. 23, 1976.
