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Les Copains
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1913
About the author
Jules Romains
469 books35 followersJules Romains, born Louis Henri Jean Farigoule (August 26, 1885 - August 14, 1972), was a French poet and writer and the founder of the Unanimism literary movement. His works include the play Knock ou le Triomphe de la médecine, and a cycle of works called Les Hommes de bonne volonté (Men of Good Will).
Jules Romain was born in Saint-Julien-Chapteuil in the Haute-Loire but went to Paris to attend first the lycée Condorcet and then the prestigious École normale supérieure. He was close to the Abbaye de Créteil, a utopian group founded in 1906 by Charles Vildrac and René Arcos, which brought together, among others, the writer Georges Duhamel, the painter Albert Gleizes and the musician Albert Doyen. He received his agrégation in philosophy in 1909.
In 1927, he signed a petition (that appeared in the magazine Europe on April 15) against the law on the general organization of the nation in time of war, abrogating all intellectual independence and all freedom of expression. His name on the petition appeared with those of Lucien Descaves, Louis Guilloux, Henry Poulaille, Séverine... and those of the young Raymond Aron and Jean-Paul Sartre from the École normale supérieure.
During World War II he went into exile first to the United States where he spoke on the radio through the Voice of America and then, beginning in 1941, to Mexico where he participated with other French refugees in founding the Institut Français d'Amérique Latine (IFAL).
A writer on many varied topics, Jules Romain was elected to the Académie Française in 1946, occupying chair 12 (among the 40 chairs in that august academy). In 1964, Jules Romains was named citizen of honor of Saint-Avertin. Following his death in Paris in 1972, his place, chair 12, in the Académie Française was taken by Jean d'Ormesson.
Jules Romains is remembered today, among other things, for his concept of Unanimism and his cycle of 27 novels in Les Hommes de bonne volonté (The Men of Good Will), a remarkable literary fresco depicting the odyssey over a quarter century of two friends, the writer Jallez and politician Jerphanion, who provide an example in literature of Unanimism.
Jules Romain was born in Saint-Julien-Chapteuil in the Haute-Loire but went to Paris to attend first the lycée Condorcet and then the prestigious École normale supérieure. He was close to the Abbaye de Créteil, a utopian group founded in 1906 by Charles Vildrac and René Arcos, which brought together, among others, the writer Georges Duhamel, the painter Albert Gleizes and the musician Albert Doyen. He received his agrégation in philosophy in 1909.
In 1927, he signed a petition (that appeared in the magazine Europe on April 15) against the law on the general organization of the nation in time of war, abrogating all intellectual independence and all freedom of expression. His name on the petition appeared with those of Lucien Descaves, Louis Guilloux, Henry Poulaille, Séverine... and those of the young Raymond Aron and Jean-Paul Sartre from the École normale supérieure.
During World War II he went into exile first to the United States where he spoke on the radio through the Voice of America and then, beginning in 1941, to Mexico where he participated with other French refugees in founding the Institut Français d'Amérique Latine (IFAL).
A writer on many varied topics, Jules Romain was elected to the Académie Française in 1946, occupying chair 12 (among the 40 chairs in that august academy). In 1964, Jules Romains was named citizen of honor of Saint-Avertin. Following his death in Paris in 1972, his place, chair 12, in the Académie Française was taken by Jean d'Ormesson.
Jules Romains is remembered today, among other things, for his concept of Unanimism and his cycle of 27 novels in Les Hommes de bonne volonté (The Men of Good Will), a remarkable literary fresco depicting the odyssey over a quarter century of two friends, the writer Jallez and politician Jerphanion, who provide an example in literature of Unanimism.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 30, 2025
Le bon Puy-de-Dôme rural et crazy
August 14, 2024
J’avoue que le discours de trois pages sur le ‘devoir’ de la femme en tant qu’épouse m’a un peu refroidie, mais c’était très drôle. Des copains alcolos qui ont décidé d’embêter le monde et montent un plan du tonnerre
October 28, 2018
Bu coşku dolu yarı-fantastik romanda, yedi aylak gencin, bir uyurgezerin kehanetine uygun olarak, iki taşra şehrinde oynadıkları oyunlarla kaos yaratmalarına şahit oluyoruz. Yedi kişi, hep birlikte hareket ediyor, birlikte macera üretiyorlar ve bazen, halk ozanları gibi birbirlerine doğaçlama şiirlerle hitap ediyorlar. (ve tabii, sık sık sarhoş oluyorlar.) Eğlenceli, hınzır ve muzur ayrıntıları olmakla birlikte, Kafadarlar’ı mizah romanı saymıyorum, çünkü içinde mizahtan çok daha fazlası var. Romains, “ünanimizm” felsefesine uygun olarak, bireyciliği aşan kolektif deneyimin iyileştirici yönünü göstermeye çalışıyor; kafadarların bir aradayken her tür kaygının ötesinde yaşamı onaylayıcı bir güce ulaştıklarını vurguluyor. Bu gösterişsiz, basit ve yine de ilginç roman hakkındaki tek olumsuz fikrim, çabuk bitmiş olması.
February 2, 2021
Drôle de lecture. S’il m’a fallu du temps pour me mettre dedans, l’absurde loufoque et comique de Les copains célèbre la plume de Jules Romains. Histoire d’amitié au dessus de toutes morales et règles noyé dans un art de vivre plus que joviale.
« — Comme ce caniche est intelligent! Il ne lui manque que la parole » Les copains, Jules Romains
« — Comme ce caniche est intelligent! Il ne lui manque que la parole » Les copains, Jules Romains
May 27, 2018
Mon père me l'a confidencié comme étant un de ses romans préférés. Je l'ai lu avec complicité et avec malice. D'un excellent français, et plein d'esprit gaulois!
May 21, 2021
Drolatique. Et qu’elle énergie dans les coups de pédales, l’imagination pour les tours pendables dans les grandes largeurs et l’amitié !
November 19, 2025
Ces copains sont coquins et hilarants. L'oratoire du Pere Lathuile est sublime.
September 8, 2020
Petit livre sur les aventures d’amis ivrognes. Quelques jolies choses, dans l’ensemble a mal vieilli
August 20, 2021
"Au plus obscur de la foule amorphe, Bénin, Broudier, Huchon, Omer, comme un calcul dans un rognon.
Autour de la statue, en rangs concentriques où la musique militaire faisait comme une nodosité, les notables, vêtus de leur costume d’enterrement, les fesses épatées sur des chaises.
— Les cabinets sont au bout du champ de pommes de terre qui est après le jardin à gauche. Le jardin est tout de suite derrière la cour. Vous trouverez facilement… Maintenant vous avez un vase sous le premier lit à droite en venant de la porte… Je vous recommande de ne le remplir qu’à moitié rapport à une fente qu’il a dans le haut.
Tout un petit village se blottissait ainsi dans l’aisselle de la terre. Le plus tendre silence unissait les maisons ; et pas une lueur qui ne fût celle de la lune ou des étoiles ; pas un reflet qui ne retournât au ciel. Pourtant les maisons tiédissaient l’air comme des moutons blancs couchés dans un pacage.
Autour de la statue, en rangs concentriques où la musique militaire faisait comme une nodosité, les notables, vêtus de leur costume d’enterrement, les fesses épatées sur des chaises.
— Les cabinets sont au bout du champ de pommes de terre qui est après le jardin à gauche. Le jardin est tout de suite derrière la cour. Vous trouverez facilement… Maintenant vous avez un vase sous le premier lit à droite en venant de la porte… Je vous recommande de ne le remplir qu’à moitié rapport à une fente qu’il a dans le haut.
Tout un petit village se blottissait ainsi dans l’aisselle de la terre. Le plus tendre silence unissait les maisons ; et pas une lueur qui ne fût celle de la lune ou des étoiles ; pas un reflet qui ne retournât au ciel. Pourtant les maisons tiédissaient l’air comme des moutons blancs couchés dans un pacage.
September 29, 2019
Bom dia.
Tahle knížka je o kumpánech, což je cizí termín pro vzácné uskupení francouzských mužů, kteří spolu nemají sex, jen tak jezdí po vesnici na kolech a nekradou bagety. Tahle skupinka je navíc dost šibalská a když se ze začátku nalejou v hospodě, napadne je, že zničí dvě městečka, protože prostě proto. Zcela tomu rozumím. Já bych klidně hned zničil Prostějov a Rusko. A tak se postupně převlečou za sochu, nebo spustí falešné vojenské školení, což mi dost připomínalo slavné filmy s Les Bažantos. Kniha je dost taškařice, takže doporučuji nosit v tašce. Já ji tam nosil a dost jí to svědčilo, takže 7/10 a doufám, že to všem dává smysl.
Tahle knížka je o kumpánech, což je cizí termín pro vzácné uskupení francouzských mužů, kteří spolu nemají sex, jen tak jezdí po vesnici na kolech a nekradou bagety. Tahle skupinka je navíc dost šibalská a když se ze začátku nalejou v hospodě, napadne je, že zničí dvě městečka, protože prostě proto. Zcela tomu rozumím. Já bych klidně hned zničil Prostějov a Rusko. A tak se postupně převlečou za sochu, nebo spustí falešné vojenské školení, což mi dost připomínalo slavné filmy s Les Bažantos. Kniha je dost taškařice, takže doporučuji nosit v tašce. Já ji tam nosil a dost jí to svědčilo, takže 7/10 a doufám, že to všem dává smysl.
March 9, 2026
Ciudată până la limita simpaticului. Sau poate invers.
Șapte prieteni (număr cu semnificații în orice poveste din orice literatură) se plictisesc de moarte și își canalizează forțele, energia și inteligența (multă-puțină, după posibilități) în construirea unei farse.
Obiectul atenției lor: un biet orășel. Iar ce-i mai rău de abia urmează...
Șapte prieteni (număr cu semnificații în orice poveste din orice literatură) se plictisesc de moarte și își canalizează forțele, energia și inteligența (multă-puțină, după posibilități) în construirea unei farse.
Obiectul atenției lor: un biet orășel. Iar ce-i mai rău de abia urmează...
August 17, 2007
This was translated as "The boys in the back room", and is Jules Romains' tale of drunkards embarking on a senseless mission. It's an unforgettable hymn to friendship that you will want to re-read every year.
April 2, 2014
Une histoire d'amitié, de camaraderie et de canulars multiples intelligents et désuets à la fois.
Une belle histoire un peu légère, un peu folâtre, qui ouvre l'oeuvre de Romains et expose sa théorie de l'unanimisme.
Publié en 1913 ; on y mesure le désenchantement du monde en un siècle...
Une belle histoire un peu légère, un peu folâtre, qui ouvre l'oeuvre de Romains et expose sa théorie de l'unanimisme.
Publié en 1913 ; on y mesure le désenchantement du monde en un siècle...
August 31, 2011
A fun and zany book... the adventures of a group of practical jokers as well as a moral on the value of camaraderie.
July 23, 2013
Boring. Confusing. Uninteresting. Worthless.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews