Roland Dorgelès

The recorded working language is French. Employment is recorded with Le Canard enchaîné, Fantasio and Wooden Crosses. Positions recorded include president. Distinctions recorded are Croix de guerre 1914–1918, Prix Femina, Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.

• Name — Roland Dorgelès • Birth Name — Roland Lecavelé • Born — 15 June 1885 • Birthplace — Amiens, Picardy, France • Died — 18 March 1973 15 June 1885 • Occupation — Author

Dorgelès is best remembered for the Prix Femina-winning World War I novel Wooden Crosses (Les Croix de bois). He began writing the novel during his time serving in both the French infantry and air force, eventually publishing in 1919. An English translation was published by William Heinemann in 1920. The novel was later adapted into a 1932 film of the same name, which was well-received.

• Illustration — Owner Père Frédé and his donkey Lolo, alias Boronali, in the entrance of the cabaret Lapin Agile Joachim-Raphaël Boronali was a fictitious Italian painter, created by Dorgelès as part of a prank on the art world. Dorgelès created paintings on canvas by tying a paintbrush to the tail of a donkey named Lolo. One of those paintings, Et le soleil s'endormit sur l'Adriatique (Sunset Over the Adriatic) was submitted to the 1910 Salon des Indépendants and attributed to the 'excessivist' Genoan painter Boronali. It was exhibited and eventually sold for 400 francs (~ $1400 in 2024 value), at which point Dorgelès revealed the hoax. The painting was later donated by Dorgelès to the Orphelinat des Arts. The painting forms part of the permanent collection at l'Espace culturel Paul Bédu (Milly-la-Forêt). • Illustration — Et le soleil s'endormit sur l'Adriatique (Sunset Over the Adriatic), 54 × 81 cm, painting made by donkey (Lolo) assisted by Roland Dorgelès.

Roland Dorgelès is recorded as having received Croix de guerre 1914–1918, Prix Femina and Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit.