“Jules Renard & the Mistery of Life”
“We spend our lives talking about this mystery. Our life”. Jules Renard
“Don’t tell a woman she’s pretty; tell her there’s no other woman like her, and all roads will open to you”. Jules Renard
Pierre-Jules Renard or Jules Renard (February 22, 1864 – May 22, 1910) was a French author and member of the Académie Goncourt, most famous for the works Poil de carotte (Carrot Top) (1894) and Les Histoires Naturelles (Nature Stories) (1896). Among his other works are Le Plaisir de rompre (The Pleasure of Breaking) (1898) and Huit jours à la campagne (A Week in the Country) (1906).
“Words are the small change of thought”. Jules Renard
The child of François Renard and Anna-Rose Colin, Renard was born in Châlons-du-Maine, Mayenne where his father was working on the construction of a railroad. Renard grew up in Chitry-les-Mines, (Nièvre). He had three older siblings including Amélie (b. 1858), who died at a young age. A second sister was also named Amélie (b. 1859). A third child, Maurice, was born before Pierre-Jules in 1862.
Renard’s childhood was characterized as difficult and sad (“un grand silence roux” or “a great ruddy silence”).
Although he decided not to attend the prestigious École normale supérieure, love of literature would eventually dominate his life. From 1885–1886, he served in the military in Bourges.
“Writing is the only way to talk without being interrupted”. Jules Renard
“Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money”. Jules Renard
On April 28, 1888, Renard married Marie Morneau. He and his wife lived at 43 rue du Rocher in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris.
“Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties”. Jules Renard
“The only man who is really free is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving an excuse”. Jules Renard
Jules Renard wrote poems, short stories, short plays, novels and his famous Poil de carotte.
“Look for the ridiculous in everything, and you will find it”. Jules Renard
Novels
Crime de village (1888)
Sourires pincés (1890)
L’écornifleur (1892)
La lanterne sourde (1893)
Coquecigrues (1893)
Deux fables sans morale (1893)
Le coureur de filles (1894)
Histoires naturelles (1894) (text)
Poil de carotte (1894) (text)
Le vigneron dans sa vigne (1894)
La maîtresse (1896)
Bucoliques (1898)
Les Philippe (1907)
Patrie (1907)
Mots d’écrit (1908)
Ragotte (1909)
Nos frères farouches (1909)
Causeries (1910)
L’œil clair (1913)
Les cloportes (1919)
“I finally know what distinguishes man from the other beasts: financial worries”. Jules Renard
Plays
La demande (1895)
Le plaisir de rompre (1897)
Le pain de ménage (1898)
Poil de carotte (1900)
Monsieur Vernet (1903)
La Bigote (1909)
Huit jours à la campagne (1912)
Journal
Journal, 1887–1910 (1925)
“As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more”. Jules Renard
“I am never bored anywhere; being bored is an insult to oneself”. Jules Renard
“If I were to begin life again, I should want it as it was but I would only open my eyes a little more”. Jules Renard
Grey Matter Matters 