Rene Crevel French writer, Dadaist and Surrealist Date of Birth: 10.08.1900 Country: France

1. René Crevel: A Dadaist and Surrealist Pioneer
2. The Shadow of Tragedy and Education
3. Surrealist Beginnings and Expulsion
4. Tuberculosis and Artistic Shifts
5. Political Engagements and Failed Reconciliation
6. Tragic End
7. Literary Legacy

René Crevel: A Dadaist and Surrealist Pioneer

René Crevel, a renowned French writer, played a pivotal role in the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. Born in Paris in 1888 into a bourgeois family, he received a strict religious upbringing that left him with an acute sensitivity and vulnerability.

The Shadow of Tragedy and Education

At the tender age of 14, Crevel's father tragically took his own life by hanging. This profound loss deeply affected him. Crevel pursued English language and literature at the Sorbonne, immersing himself in the writings of authors like Oscar Wilde and Arthur Rimbaud.

Surrealist Beginnings and Expulsion

In 1921, Crevel encountered André Breton and joined the Surrealists. Their emphasis on the unconscious and the exploration of dreams resonated with him. However, his homosexuality, which was openly challenged within the group, led to his expulsion in 1923. Undeterred, he penned the controversial novel "Mon Corps et moi" ("My Body and Me") during this period.

Tuberculosis and Artistic Shifts

In 1926, Crevel's life took a drastic turn when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This led him down a path of morphine addiction and a shift in artistic leanings towards Dadaism. However, his political beliefs, which led him to join the French Communist Party in 1927, eventually prompted him to reconcile with the Surrealists in 1929 after Leon Trotsky's exile from the USSR.

Political Engagements and Failed Reconciliation

Crevel yearned to bridge the gap between Surrealism and Communism. He actively attempted to bring together the two groups. In 1932, he was deeply disappointed by the Surrealists' expulsion from the International Congress of Writers for the Defense of Culture and his own failure to appease the situation.

Tragic End

Haunted by the memory of his father's suicide, Crevel succumbed to his own depression. The political disillusionment and the news of his kidney tuberculosis proved unbearable. In 1935, he took his own life, mirroring the tragic end of his father.

Literary Legacy

René Crevel's literary legacy includes notable novels such as "Mon Corps et moi" and "Le Clavecin de Diderot" ("Diderot's Harpsichord"). His writings explored themes of identity, sexuality, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on French literature.