Jean Genet (December 19, 1910 – April 15, 1986)

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Jean Genet (December 19, 1910 – April 15, 1986) was a prominent and controversial French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. Early in his life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but later took to writing. His major works include the novels Querelle of Brest, The Thief's Journal, and Our Lady of the Flowers, and the plays The Balcony, The Blacks, The Maids and The Screens. By 1949 Genet had completed five novels, three plays and numerous poems. His explicit and often deliberately provocative portrayal of homosexuality and criminality was such that by the early 1950s his work was banned in the United States. Genet developed throat cancer and was found dead on April 15, 1986 in a hotel room in Paris. Genet may have fallen on the floor and fatally hit his head. He is buried in the Spanish Cemetery in Larache, Morocco.

Timeline & Places:

• December 19, 1910: born.

• April 15, 1986: died. Buried at Larache Christian Cemetery, Provincia di Larache 92000, Marocco

References:

Queer Places, Vol. 3.1: Retracing the Steps of LGBTQ people around the World
ISBN-13: 978-1532906695 (CreateSpace-Assigned)
ISBN-10: 1532906692
CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/6228901
Amazon print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1532906692/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Amazon kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IZXI10E/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

Comments

Genet

[mykola mick dementiuk (from livejournal.com)]

Ever since I first picked up Jean Genet in the early 1960s I felt myself close to him. Those were my own years of being a hoodlum and a petty thief, the biggest thing I ever stole was a small typewriter which I later pawned for $15, a big amount in those days. Was picked up by the cops a few times but my thieving was so petty they didn't have anything to pin on me and I was always let go. Still, the audacious behavior of Genet seemed to hold me to my reading, of him and other writers, so close that it became a daily event in my life, which I still do everyday. I did not become a thief like Genet but like Genet I still write, that's more than enough. Thank you Jean Genet.

Re: Genet

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you Mick, I remember you told me about your love for Genet. Lucky him and you, you were never sentenced for your petty thefts ;-)