American literature in french

by JEAN-PAUL SARTRE

1

THERE is one American literature for Americans and another for the French. In France the general reader knows Babbitt and Gone With the Wind, but these books have had no influence on French literature.

The greatest literary development in France between 1929 and 1939 was the discovery of Faulkner, Dos Passos, Hemingway, Caldwell, Steinbeck. The choice of these authors, many people have told me, was due to Professor Maurice Coindreau of Princeton, who sent us their works in translation with excellent prefaces.

But a selection by any one man is effective only if he foresees the demands of the collective group to which ho addresses himself.

American literature in french language

With Coindreau as intermediary, the French public selected the works it needed. It is true that these authors have not had in France a popular success comparable to that of Sinclair Lewis. Their influence was far more restricted, but infinitely more profound.

We needed them and not your famous Dreiser. To writers of