Yves Navarre

Yves Navarre

Yves Navarre with Jean Le Bitoux, 1981
Born September 24, 1940
Died January 24, 1994
Occupation Author

Yves Navarre (September 24, 1940 – January 24, 1994) was a French writer. A gay man, most of his work concerned homosexuality and associated issues, such as AIDS.[1] In his romantic works, Navarre was noted for his tendency to emphasize sensuality and "the mystical qualities of love"[2] rather than sexuality or sensationalism. He was awarded the 1980 Prix Goncourt for his novel Le Jardin d'acclimatation.

Biography

Born in Condom, he studied Spanish, English, and French literature at the University of Lille, earning degrees in 1961 and 1964. The following year, he studied at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord. He then worked for an ad agency as a creative writer.

He began submitting works to publishers in 1958, although it was not until 1971 that his first novel, Lady Black, was published. This was followed in 1973 by Les Loukoums, which tells the story of a malady afflicting a group of New Yorkers. A string of novels followed, often – as in Le Petit Galopin de nos corps, 1977 and Portrait de Julien devant la fenêtre, 1979 – about love affairs between two male characters. He also wrote works of drama, such as Il pleut : si on tuait papa-maman, La Guerre des piscines, and Les Dernières clientes.

For Le Jardin d'acclimatation, the story of a young well-born man imprisoned and lobotomized for his homosexuality, Navarre was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1980. He became François Mitterrand's main advocate in the gay community during the 1981 and 1988 elections, although as a novelist and not a politician, he felt misunderstood and ineffective in the role.

In 1984, Navarre suffered a stroke. He did not publish any more works until 1986.

Between 1990 and 1993 he lived in Montreal, Quebec. His 1992 novel Ce sont amis que vent emporte tells the story of a sculptor, Roch, in a relationship with a dancer, David. The novel recounts their struggle against AIDS. After his return to France, he developed depression and committed suicide with barbiturates on January 24, 1994.[1]

Works

Novels

Drama

Autobiography

Bibliography

« La tendresse tue. L'absence de tendresse assassine. »

References

  1. 1 2 "Yves Navarre, Novelist And Prize Winner, 53". New York Times. January 26, 1994. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Guide to the Yves Navarre Literary Manuscripts and Letters, 1959–1982". Pennsylvania State University Special Collections Library. Retrieved June 29, 2007.

See also the official site, in French

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