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Occupation Journal
A captivating literary and historical record, Jean Giono's Occupation Journal offers a glimpse into life in collaborationist France during the Second World War, as seen through the eyes and thoughts of one of France's greatest and most independent writers.
Written during the years of France's occupation by the Nazis, Jean Giono's Occupation Journal reveals the inner workings of one of France's great literary minds during one of the country's darkest hours. A renowned writer and committed pacifist throughout the 1930s--a conviction that resulted in his imprisonment before and after the Occupation--Giono spent the war in the village of Contadour in Provence, where he wrote, corresponded with other writers, and cared for his consumptive daughter. This journal records his musings on art and literature, his observations of life, his interactions with the machinery of the collaborationist Vichy regime, as well as his forceful political convictions. Giono recounts the details of his life with fierce independence of thought and novelistic attention to character and dialogue. Occupation Journal is a fascinating historical document as well as a unique window into one of French literature's most voracious and critical minds.
Written during the years of France's occupation by the Nazis, Jean Giono's Occupation Journal reveals the inner workings of one of France's great literary minds during one of the country's darkest hours. A renowned writer and committed pacifist throughout the 1930s--a conviction that resulted in his imprisonment before and after the Occupation--Giono spent the war in the village of Contadour in Provence, where he wrote, corresponded with other writers, and cared for his consumptive daughter. This journal records his musings on art and literature, his observations of life, his interactions with the machinery of the collaborationist Vichy regime, as well as his forceful political convictions. Giono recounts the details of his life with fierce independence of thought and novelistic attention to character and dialogue. Occupation Journal is a fascinating historical document as well as a unique window into one of French literature's most voracious and critical minds.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Jean Giono
334 books346 followersJean Giono, the only son of a cobbler and a laundress, was one of France's greatest writers. His prodigious literary output included stories, essays, poetry, plays, film scripts, translations and over thirty novels, many of which have been translated into English.
Giono was a pacifist, and was twice imprisoned in France at the outset and conclusion of World War II.
He remained tied to Provence and Manosque, the little city where he was born in 1895 and, in 1970, died.
Giono was awarded the Prix Bretano, the Prix de Monaco (for the most outstanding collected work by a French writer), the Légion d'Honneur, and he was a member of the Académie Goncourt.
Giono was a pacifist, and was twice imprisoned in France at the outset and conclusion of World War II.
He remained tied to Provence and Manosque, the little city where he was born in 1895 and, in 1970, died.
Giono was awarded the Prix Bretano, the Prix de Monaco (for the most outstanding collected work by a French writer), the Légion d'Honneur, and he was a member of the Académie Goncourt.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 27, 2020
I recognize there is a certain amount of mundanity in any journal, but the mundane in strange times is what I’ve been reading this book in, so it’s been personally very fitting for me. War and other disasters don’t always erase the day to day struggles and joys that fill our lives. And Giono writes so beautifully of his environment and the writing process, the Occupation is almost an afterthought.
April 25, 2020
Jean Giono (1895-1970) is one of France’s most acclaimed writers and this diary, which he kept during the Nazi occupation, offers a vivid picture of his life in a small French village. It only covers a short period, from September 1943 to September 1944, when he was arrested for “collaboration” but is nevertheless a fascinating document. The diary hasn’t been edited or annotated which means it has an immediacy that makes it particularly interesting, although sometimes I found Giono’s musings about his work and his creative process a little tedious. As a literary and historical record of this turbulent period in France’s history, and in Giono’s life, it is indeed a valuable document, and although some advance knowledge of Giono’s life and work is advantageous, it can be read as a stand-alone account of life in France at that time.
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June 3, 2020I purchased this book based on a review from Words Without Borders’ newsletter. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I was drawn to the idea of journal keeping during times of great upheaval. By the time I finished it, America would see itself in the midst of riots for racial equality and against police brutality against black people.
I had no idea he was a famous French writer so many of his notes just passed through me as I am not familiar with his work, so with that I found most of the content a bit boring - (and he even says that these were not meant to be read), mostly recounting what he needs to work on, has just worked on, or the merits of what he is reading. Aside from the work he spends the rest of his time giving away all his money to his friends and family who seem shameless in their asking, and which also leaves him short on cash.
As the war creeps closer to where he lives, we hear a bit more of his views. The war seems nothing more than an annoyance to him, an interruption to his life. He portrays his pacifism in cloaks of dignity, but at the end one gets a sense it is from his position of privilege that he can remain so unengaged even on a philosophical level.
What I liked most is the portrayal of how despite the war, many people tried to carve out a sense of normalcy, and how people still got on with their daily lives — until either the war - or their lives - were over. I value the importance of documents like his journal in flushing out a time in history. It’s the chronicle of daily lives that allow us to understand that history as it was lived by the people and not just what a text in school will decide to teach.
I had no idea he was a famous French writer so many of his notes just passed through me as I am not familiar with his work, so with that I found most of the content a bit boring - (and he even says that these were not meant to be read), mostly recounting what he needs to work on, has just worked on, or the merits of what he is reading. Aside from the work he spends the rest of his time giving away all his money to his friends and family who seem shameless in their asking, and which also leaves him short on cash.
As the war creeps closer to where he lives, we hear a bit more of his views. The war seems nothing more than an annoyance to him, an interruption to his life. He portrays his pacifism in cloaks of dignity, but at the end one gets a sense it is from his position of privilege that he can remain so unengaged even on a philosophical level.
What I liked most is the portrayal of how despite the war, many people tried to carve out a sense of normalcy, and how people still got on with their daily lives — until either the war - or their lives - were over. I value the importance of documents like his journal in flushing out a time in history. It’s the chronicle of daily lives that allow us to understand that history as it was lived by the people and not just what a text in school will decide to teach.
April 8, 2020
Begun with the occupation of France by the Nazis and ending shortly before his arrest by the liberating Ally forces for collaborating with the Germans (a fallacy easily disproved with material evidence and ample witness testimony), Occupation Journal at first feels to be a humdrum diary of daily tasks, yet argues for, in its details and incidents over its 300 pages, the moral power of daily tasks, especially in deadly, uncertain times.
When the book begins, Giono’s concerns are those of most other artists’ (and tiresome, since they are common themes among artists): money (who wants it, who has it, who owes it), creative frustrations, publisher demands, and so forth. He claims to owe 80,000 francs to the French government, complains about having only 20,000 francs in the bank, and yet reports time and again that the money he begs from publishers he immediately gives to family, friends, and neighbors for surgeries, food, and the ability to hide.
Between the start and end of the Occupation he writes six novels and two plays and translates one novel, in addition to writing this journal. And yet, between the start and end of the Occupation he also saves at least a dozen people—resisters, Jews, and Communists—while also being the sole support of his extended family of nine. The heroism lies in doing the right thing merely because it is the right thing to do, without expectation of accolade or appreciation.
When the book begins, Giono’s concerns are those of most other artists’ (and tiresome, since they are common themes among artists): money (who wants it, who has it, who owes it), creative frustrations, publisher demands, and so forth. He claims to owe 80,000 francs to the French government, complains about having only 20,000 francs in the bank, and yet reports time and again that the money he begs from publishers he immediately gives to family, friends, and neighbors for surgeries, food, and the ability to hide.
Between the start and end of the Occupation he writes six novels and two plays and translates one novel, in addition to writing this journal. And yet, between the start and end of the Occupation he also saves at least a dozen people—resisters, Jews, and Communists—while also being the sole support of his extended family of nine. The heroism lies in doing the right thing merely because it is the right thing to do, without expectation of accolade or appreciation.
December 31, 2021
Jean Giono was a well known French writer in the 20th century. This is the journal he kept in 1943 and 1944 during the Nazi occupation of France. He had fought in WWI and became an outspoken pacifist thereafter. After the liberation of France he was arrested for being a collaborator though was never charged with anything. He was released 5 months later and went on to write and publish more novels.
At times I did not know much about what I was reading, as I was unfamiliar with him and his associates but I did like his daily remarks about trying to write under such conditions. He lived near Marseille in Provence and I found it interesting as a chronicle of life during constant bombing, shortages and having one's friends being sent to concentration camps. He did all he could to help anyone he could, was always stressed about money, while lamenting the loss of life, of social upheaval, political insanity and death.
Not happy subjects but a sort of primer on how to maintain a pacifist viewpoint in the midst of war. That was my main interest because I consider myself a pacifist. I wanted to know more about how to be one. My conclusion is that, like any other sane outlook during terrible times, it is a somewhat passive position and all one can do is help those nearest and dearest without giving in to despair. Also keep a journal and write when possible.
At times I did not know much about what I was reading, as I was unfamiliar with him and his associates but I did like his daily remarks about trying to write under such conditions. He lived near Marseille in Provence and I found it interesting as a chronicle of life during constant bombing, shortages and having one's friends being sent to concentration camps. He did all he could to help anyone he could, was always stressed about money, while lamenting the loss of life, of social upheaval, political insanity and death.
Not happy subjects but a sort of primer on how to maintain a pacifist viewpoint in the midst of war. That was my main interest because I consider myself a pacifist. I wanted to know more about how to be one. My conclusion is that, like any other sane outlook during terrible times, it is a somewhat passive position and all one can do is help those nearest and dearest without giving in to despair. Also keep a journal and write when possible.
April 8, 2020
Unfiltered diary entries from the year leading up to the Allied recapture of France from the Nazis, with all that that entails for the pacifist author. Here we get bickering over money, friendships and what the public perception of Giono is, and a heck of a lot more, but the fact it wasn't edited then and has received no annotation now means it certainly starts out as being for a specialist audience only. His discussion of his writing life is what many will come for – even if the pieces he struggles with here are not the most famous in English translation – but come the end we've seen the rise in military activity that led to the Americans' arrival, offset by his rampant objector's stance.
December 27, 2021
The author records the mundane events of his daily life on a farm in the south of France near Marseille along with commentary on the status of his literary efforts and the ongoing war in this diary covering an approximately one year time period between September 1943 and 1944.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews