André Gide

André Paul Guillaume Gide (November 22, 1869 – February 19, 1951) was a French author and, at times, a spokesman for gay rights {{dubious}}. A renown literary experimenter and socially involved man, Gide's career spanned from the symbolist movement to the advent of anticolonialism in-between the two World Wars. In 1947, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Early life

Gide was born in Paris, France on November 22, 1869. His father was a Paris University professor of law and died 1880. His uncle was the political economist Charles Gide.

Related Topics:
Paris - November 22 - 1869 - 1880 - Charles Gide

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Gide was brought up in isolated conditions in Normandy and became a prolific writer at an early age, publishing in 1891 his first novel, The Notebooks of Andre Walter (French: Les Cahiers d'André Walter).

Related Topics:
Normandy - 1891

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In 1893 and 1894 Gide traveled in northern Africa. He befriended Oscar Wilde in Algiers and there clearly recognized his homosexual orientation:

Related Topics:
1893 - 1894 - Africa - Oscar Wilde - Algiers - Homosexual

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:"But how can I describe my delerium at holding in my naked arms that perfect, savage little brown body, eager, lacivious? I spent a long time, after Mohammed had left me, in a state of trembling exaltation, and although I had reached the peak of pleasure five times with him, I re-lived my ecstacy again and again, and back at my room at the hotel prolonged the memories until dawn. At the first pale light I got up; and ran, yes really ran, in sandals, far beyond Mustapha; a kind of lightness of the body and soul did not leave me all day." (Si Le Grain Ne Meurt).

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