Roger Grenier
Roger Grenier (19 September 1919 – 8 November 2017) was a French writer, journalist and radio animator. He was Regent of the Collège de ’Pataphysique.
Roger Grenier

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- Name
- Roger Grenier
- Born
- 19 September 1919
- Birthplace
- Caen, France
- Died
- 8 November 2017
- Place of death
- Paris, France
- Occupation
- Writer, novelist
- Spouse
- Marguerite (195?–197?) Nicole (1979–2017, his death)
- Awards
- Prix Femina Prix Albert Camus Prix de l'Académie Française Prix Novembre
- Full name
- Roger Joseph Germain François Grenier.
- Nationality
- France.
- Fields
- literary criticism.
- Education
- Faculty of Arts of Paris.
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Documentary summary
Roger Grenier (19 September 1919 – 8 November 2017) was a French writer, journalist and radio animator. He was Regent of the Collège de ’Pataphysique.
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Roger Grenier (1919–2017) was a biographer, editor and french resistance fighter, among other activities, of French nationality. The biographer was born Roger Joseph Germain François Grenier in Caen and died in 13th arrondissement of Paris.
Roger Grenier was educated at Faculty of Arts of Paris. The biographer worked for Combat, Éditions Gallimard and France Soir and was a member of College of 'Pataphysics and comité de lecture des éditions Gallimard. Activity centred on literary criticism.
Among the works is Ciné-roman. Languages used include French. Honours include Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Grand prix de littérature de l'Académie française and Grand prix de littérature de la SGDL, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 29 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q1237856 · wikipedia · Roger Grenier
In this article
Biography
Biography
Grenier worked between 1919 and 2017 across journalist, playwright, novelist, editor and biographer and 5 further recorded occupations. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.
Roger Grenier studied at Faculty of Arts of Paris. The recorded working language is French. The field of work recorded is literary criticism. Employment is recorded with Combat, France Soir and Éditions Gallimard. Works named in the authority record are Ciné-roman. Distinctions recorded are Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Prix Femina, Grand prix de littérature de l'Académie française and Grand prix de littérature de la SGDL.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Roger Grenier • Born — 19 September 1919 • Birthplace — Caen, France • Died — 8 November 2017 • Place of death — Paris, France • Language — French • Years Active — 1940–2015 • Occupation — Writer, novelist • Notable Works — The Difficulty of Being a Dog • Spouse — Marguerite (195?–197?) Nicole (1979–2017, his death) • Children — 2 sons • Awards — Prix Femina Prix Albert Camus Prix de l'Académie Française Prix Novembre
Biography
Biography
As a youth, Grenier lived in Pau, where Andrélie opened a shop selling glasses. During the Second World War, he attended classes taught by Gaston Bachelard at the Sorbonne while participating in the French Resistance before actively participating in the 1944 liberation of Paris. In his memoir Paris ma grand'ville, Grenier describes being briefly arrested and narrowly avoiding execution by the Occupation forces on the boulevard Saint-Germain. He was only able to escape after an argument in German broke out among his captors. After the Liberation of Paris, he joined Albert Camus at the newspaper Combat. Grenier later went on to write for the newspaper France Soir. As a journalist, he followed post-war trials which inspired his first essay in 1949 Le Rôle d'accusé. He left professional journalism in 1964 to assume a position on the editorial board of the prominent French publishing house Gallimard. A true man of letters, Grenier was actively involved in many aspects of literary production and criticism. In addition to working as a radio host and a writer for television and cinema, he was a member of the board at Gallimard from 1964 up until his death. Young authors frequently sought out his advice and submitted manuscripts to him for consideration. Grenier was well connected among French authors of his time, such as Joseph Kessel and Albert Camus (whose works Grenier edited after Camus died in 1960), and writers abroad, such as William Faulkner and Yukio Mishimo. His own writing has been recognized by some of the most prominent literary institutions in France. He was a recipient of the Grand prix de l'Académie française in 1985 for his body of work of more than thirty works: novels including the best-sellers Le Palais d'hiver 1965 and Ciné-roman Prix Femina in 1972, as well as essays on Chekov and F. Scott Fitzgerald and memoirs. He is best known in the United States for his work The Difficulty of Being a Dog (Les larmes d'Ulysse), translated by Alice Kaplan. Until his death, he was writing and a busy conference attendee, speaking about his works, literature, Gallimard, or his friends: Albert Camus, and Brassaï.
Works
Works
• 2011 Le palais des livres, translation by Alice Kaplan, Palace of Books, University of Chicago Press, 2014,. See an excerpt. • 2010 Dans le secret d'une photo, translation by Alice Kaplan, A Box of Photographs, University of Chicago Press, 2013,. • 2008 Tchékhov - Récit d'un inconnu et autres nouvelles, préface and dossier, « Folio » • 2007 Instantanés, souvenirs • 2006 Trois années after Anton Chekhov's novel, theatre, created in Paris at Petit Montparnasse • 2005 Andrélie, traits et portraits, Mercure de France • 2003 Trois tortues et quelques autres, Gibraffaro??? • 2003 Une nouvelle pour vous, novels • 2001 Fidèle au poste • 2001 Roger Grenier ou le droit de se contredire, conversation with Danielle Stéphane, La Passe du vent • 2000 Le Veilleur, novel • 1998 Les Larmes d'Ulysse, translation by Alice Kaplan, The Difficulty of Being a Dog, University of Chicago Press, 2000,. See an excerpt. • 1997 Quelqu'un de ce temps-là, novels • 1994 Trois heures du matin Scott Fitzgerald, essay • 1993 La Marche turque, novels • 1992 Regardez la neige qui tombe. Impressions de Tchekhov, essay, Prix Novembre Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1997 • 1991 Villas anglaises à Pau, photographs by Anne Garde, éd. Marrimpouey • 1991 Partita, novel • 1989 Pascal Pia ou Le droit au néant, essay • 1988 Rues, 1934–1988, photographs by J. Dubois, Nathan • 1988 La Mare d'Auteuil, novel • 1987 Albert Camus, soleil et ombre: une biographie intellectuelle, essay, Prix Albert Camus, Rééd. 1991, Albert Camus, a cura di Roger Grenier, Milano,Bompiani, 1988. Réed. 1992 • 1987 Un guide intime, Prague, éd. Autrement • 1987 Brassaï, essay • 1986 Le Pierrot noir, novel, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1996, Another November, Bison Books, 1998 • 1985 Il te faudra quitter Florence, novel 1985, Rééd. Gallimard, « Folio », 1994 • 1983 Oeuvres complètes d'Albert Camus, two volumes, Club de l'honnête homme • 1982 La Fiancée de Fragonard, novels • 1982 Album Camus. Commented iconography, La Pléiade • 1980 La Follia, novel • 1979 Un air de famille, tale • 1978 Iscan, éd. Horay, coll. « Le Territoire de l'œil » • 1977 La Salle de rédaction, novels • 1975 Le Miroir des eaux, Prix de la nouvelle de l'Académie française • 1972 Ciné-roman, Prix Femina, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Soleil », 1973 et « Folio », 1995, TV adaptation in 1978 • 1972 Une maison place des fêtes, novels • 1971 Avant une guerre, novel • 1971 Claude Roy • 1965 Le Palais d'hiver, novel, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1973 • 1961 Le Silence, novels, Rééd. 1984 • 1960 La Voie romaine, novel • 1958 Les Embuscades, novel, Rééd. Gallimard, coll. « Folio », 1980 • 1953 Limelight. Les Feux de la rampe, novel after Charles Chaplin's scenario • 1953 Les Monstres, novel • 1949 Le Rôle d'accusé, essay
Life and work
Life and work
Roger Grenier was born on 19 September 1919 in Caen. Grenier held the nationality of France. Grenier was educated at Faculty of Arts of Paris. Grenier worked as journalist, playwright, novelist and editor, and the authority record catalogues a further 6 occupations under the same name, among them biographer, memoirist, French resistance fighter, literary critic, radio personality and writer. Grenier was employed by Combat, France Soir and Éditions Gallimard. Grenier worked in French. Grenier died on 8 November 2017 in 13th arrondissement of Paris. Grenier is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1919–2017
The full dated record · 10 entries
1919
Roger Grenier was born on 19 September 1919.
1959
Receives Prix des Quatre jurys.
1971
Recorded as member of: comité de lecture des éditions Gallimard.
1971
Receives Grand prix de littérature de la SGDL.
1972
Receives Prix Femina.
1985
Receives Grand prix de littérature de l'Académie française.
1992
Receives Prix Décembre.
1998
Receives Goncourt des animaux.
2017
Dies at 13th arrondissement of Paris.
2017
Roger Grenier died at 13th arrondissement of Paris.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Caen.
Birth place
13th arrondissement of Paris.
Death place
Catalogued output
Books and published writings
Iconographie choisie et commentee par Roger Grenier (French Edition)
1982
Le rôle d'accusé
1948
Luci della ribalta
1951
Les monstres, roman
1953
Limelight
1953
Les\Embuscades
1958
La voie romaine
1960
Years in ambush
1960
Le silence
1961
A Albert Camus
1962
Brassaï
1968
Avant une guerre
1971
Claude Roy
1971
The complete catalogue · 55
Le rôle d'accusé
1948
Luci della ribalta
1951
Les monstres, roman
1953
Limelight
1953
Les\Embuscades
1958
La voie romaine
1960
Years in ambush
1960
Le silence
1961
A Albert Camus
1962
Brassaï
1968
Avant une guerre
1971
Claude Roy
1971
Une maison place des Fêtes
1972
CineRoman
1975
Le miroir des eaux
1975
La salle de rédaction
1977
Le Palais d'hiver
1978
Un air de famille
1979
La Follia
1980
Iconographie choisie et commentee par Roger Grenier (French Edition)
1982
La fiancée de Fragonard
1982
Il te faudra quitter Florence
1985
Le Pierrot noir
1986
Albert Camus, soleil et ombre
1987
Albert Camus
1987
La mare d'Auteuil
1988
Les larmes d'Ulysse (L'un et l'autre)
1988
Brassai, 1899-1984 (Photofile)
1989
Pascal Pia, ou, Le droit au néant
1989
Partita
1991
Iscan
1992
Regardez la neige qui tombe
1992
La marche turque
1993
Trois heures du matin
1995
Quelqu'un de ce temps-là
1997
Another November
1998
Regardez La Neige Qui Tombe (L'Un et l'autre)
1998
Les larmes d'Ulysse
1998
Le veilleur
2000
The Difficulty of Being a Dog
2000
Le droit de se contredire
2001
Fidèle au poste
2001
Piano music for four hands
2001
Carnet vénitien
2002
Andrélie
2005
Trois années
2006
Le temps des separations
2006
Dans le secret d'une photo
2010
5, rue Sébastien-Bottin
2011
Le palais des livres
2012
Brefs récits pour une longue histoire
2012
A box of photographs
2013
Palace of books
2014
Paris ma grand'ville
2015
Les deux rives
2022
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Roger Grenier”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1237856: Roger Grenier
Unverified · Wikidata
Institutional memberships
Where the work is held
Institutional memberships
Grenier is recorded as a member of College of 'Pataphysics and comité de lecture des éditions Gallimard (from 1971). Membership is stated by the bodies' own records and is not read here as evidence of office or of any particular role within them.
Honours and awards
Where the work is held
Honours and awards
They run from 1959 to 1998.
7 honours stand against the name
Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
Prix des Quatre jurys
1959
Grand prix de littérature de la SGDL
1971
Prix Femina
1972
Grand prix de littérature de l'Académie française
1985
Prix Décembre
1992
Goncourt des animaux
1998
Authority records
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.« Grenier, Roger », notice d'autorité personne n° FRBNF11905870, catalogue Bn-Opale Plus, Bibliothèque nationale de France, created May 12, 1975, modified February 27, 2007
- 2.Régents of the Collège de ’Pataphysique
- 3.self-titled 2005 novel
- 4.Roger Grenier facing wearing glasses
- 5.UN GUIDE INTIME, PRAGUE by ROGER GRENIER: Bon Couverture rigide (1987) | Le-Livre.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Roger Grenier worked in literary criticism. He was employed by Combat, France Soir and Éditions Gallimard. He belonged to College of 'Pataphysics and comité de lecture des éditions Gallimard. Grenier received Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Prix Femina, Grand prix de littérature de l'Académie française, Grand prix de littérature de la SGDL, Prix Décembre and Prix des Quatre jurys.
Career and activity
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,960 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Roger Georges MorvanAuthor
- Roger Gilbert-LecomteAuthor
- Roger GirouxAuthor
- Roger GreenwaldAuthor
- Roger HaninAuthor
- Roger IkorAuthor
- Roger JonesAuthor
- Roger JudrinAuthor
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