The Journals of Julien Green

Abstract

By JOHN L. BROWN One of most significant and characteristic areas of French from Montaigne onward has been that devoted self-analysis, exploration of moi. It embrace^ a number of allied forms: memoirs, usually concerned with events in which author has played a role, such as those of Sully, of Saint-Simon, of General de Gaulle; autobiography, such as Chateaubriand's Memoires d'outretombe or Stendhal's Vie de Henry Brulard and, in our own time, works by Simone de Beauvoir, Gide, Malraux, Sartre, and Julien Green (who has written four volumes of autobiography in addition his journals); and, especially from nineteenth century onward, journal intime, represented by Amiel, Benjamin Constant, Maine de Biran, Eugenie and Maurice de Gu6rin, Goncourts, and, in twentieth century, a time of proliferation of genre, by Barres, Leautaud, Jouhandeau, Charles du Bos, Montherlant, Michel Leiris, Bourbon-Busset, and especially perhaps by Gide and Green. These various forms are interrelated, but important distinctions do exist. The first concerns distancing of from event. Most memoirs and autobiographies are written after often long after events which they describe. The journal normally is written from day day. They employ varying techniques and admit of varying degrees of and intimacy. The rise of journal intime can be associated with importance which romanticism accorded private individual as opposed public man. But moralistic tradition, importance of scrutiny of self, has prevailed, as we have said, throughout entire course of French literature. Among French journaux intimes of this century, those of Gide and Green, so different yet so complementary, are outstanding. Gide's journals have received much critical attention; those of Green, overshadowed perhaps by early success enjoyed by his novels, have received much less, although Green has declared (27 July 1950) that they constitute his best work: world's present state, this diary dismay very it is meant for. It is, nevertheless, my best book. It was in April 1926 that Green began a diary, which he abandoned temporarily in October. However, recognizing in un memorialiste impenitent, he took it up again on 17 September 1928, never interrupt it again except for a few months (from March 1939 July 1940) at beginning of war. In course of a conversation on 23 October 1937 publisher Bernard Grasset encouraged him publish his journals, something Green had never seriously considered. The proposition raised a number of fundamental questions. Can a writer tell everything with complete frankness (as Green had proposed do in first entry of his diary in 1928) in works published during his lifetime? Can he thousands of people into his confidence? Green's decision take risk made necessary several changes in way he composed journal. He began recopy and edit text of an expurgated first volume, Les annees faciles, 19261934, published in 1938, followed by Derniers beaux jours, 1936-1939 in 1939. He recognized that they are not truly intimate what journal ever is? but rather a conscious literary work designed for a public: choose for inclusion that which seem be of interest for a wide variety of readers. This may give my pages appearance of a patchwork, but isn't life a patchwork? (2 September 1980). He made it a rule read in advance his friends any passages in which he speaks of them in order obtain their approval. He did not want to wound or irritate anyone (27 November 1948). He often found it difficult write when aware that he was writing for others (5 February 1939): used be someone talking aloud in his loneliness. It is no longer possible for me continue, since I know that I am being listened to. Of course, as reader becomes quickly aware, Green is also very reticent about revealing his personal life and particularly any details concerning his sexual obsessions. Gide continually reproached him, You put in only 'proper' things (21 July 1947). Green felt, however, that in a journal the erotic passages are less embarrassing than pious ones. For him, truly candid journal would not be record of body in revolt against soul, nor of soul oppressing body, but of man finally reconciled with himself (12 August 1948). He also recognized that one of vainest worries of diarist is desire achieve absolute coherence: have varied, I shall vary again. At all times, I feel in me a deep aptitude for changing, that is a part of very instinct of living (1 February 1939). Green has never ceased speculate about enterprise in which he is engaged, and as a result, diaries offer subtle and penetrating observations on theory and practice of genre. Rejecting elaborate psychological explanations, he concludes with disarming simplicity about why he is keeping his journals: Well, one