Julien Green

Julien Green, often referred to as Julian Green, was an American writer whose life was predominantly spent in France. He was a prolific author, known for his works primarily written in French, with occasional writings in English. Over the course of his extensive career, he produced a diverse array of literary works, including novels, essays, and plays, as well as a notable biography of Francis of Assisi.

In addition to his fiction and non-fiction, Green created a remarkable four-volume autobiography and maintained a daily journal for decades. This journal, which he later edited and published in nineteen volumes, offered a unique glimpse into his life and thoughts. The posthumous release of the unexpurgated text of his journals revealed a different side of his personality and sexuality, shedding light on the lives of many prominent contemporaries and documenting the vibrant gay subculture of twentieth-century France.

In 1971, Julien Green made history by becoming the first non-French national elected to the prestigious Académie française. His literary contributions earned him numerous accolades, and he was one of the few writers to have his collected works published in Gallimard's esteemed Pleiade library during his lifetime, solidifying his legacy in the literary world.