Édouard Dujardin

Édouard Dujardin (1861–1949) was a French writer, one of the early pioneers of the literary technique stream of consciousness, exemplified in his 1888 novel "Les Lauriers sont coupés."

Biography

Édouard Émile Louis Dujardin was born in France near Blois, and was the only child of Alphonse Dujardin, a sea captain.

Dujardin became editor for the journal "Revue Indépendente" in 1886, and it was here that his first works were published. His participation in this journal resulted in it being labeled an "important voice for the symbolists" (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center 2004).

Upon the death of his parents, Dujardin was the sole heir to their fortune, and he used some of this money to finance the plays "Antonia" in 1891 and "Le Chevalier Du Passé" in 1882.

His literary works are extensive and include numerous plays, poems and novels. Dujardin also produced works of literary and social criticism and reminiscence. James Joyce claimed his style of interior monologue owed its influence to works by Dujardin. He continued his involvement with journalism throughout his life and this resulted in numerous scuffles with authorities, including charges of treason, though he was never convicted.

Dujardin had expensive and lavish tastes in clothing which was deemed "dandyish" for his day, and was known to frequent Parisian night life. His many dalliances with females were noted and he had had numerous relationships with actresses, models and other glamorous women. Dujardin was also known to have many female friends involved in the arts and he supported some of them financially.

His frivolous lifestyle eventually drained his finances so he embarked on numerous financial ventures, including gambling and real estate. He also offered his services to periodicals for marketing and advertising campaigns. It was here that the police saw an article compiled by Dujardin which resulted in a jail sentence, though it was later remitted.

In 1885 Dujardin and Téodor de Wyzewa ['Téodor de Wyzewa' was the adopted name of Polish-born Theodore Etienne Wyzewski, Harrison C, Wood P., Gaiger J. "Art in Theory 1815-1900" Blackwell, ISBN 0-631-20066-5 page 1003.] launched the "Revue Wagnérienne", following in the footsteps of Félix Fénéon and his "Revue Indépendante" which had started appearing the year before. In 1886 Dujardin and Fénéon joined forces under the banner of a new improved "Revue Indépendante". One of the innovations at this time was that the "Revue" started holding small exhibitions in its rooms.

Dujardin married the beautiful Germaine in 1893 and they later separated in 1901. They did not divorce until 1924 when he married Marie Chenou, a women thirty years his junior. He fathered two children, lived a peaceful life in his old age and died aged 88 on October 31, 1949.

List of works

Plays

*"Le Chevalier Du Passé" (1882)
*"Antonia" (1891)

Novels and other works

*"Les Lauriers sont coupés" ("The Bays are Sere") (1888)
*"The Source of the Christian Tradition: A Critical History of Ancient Judaism" (1911)
*"Interior Monologue"
*"Mallarmé par un des siens"
*"Ancient History of the God Jesus"

References

*Moore, George. "Letters from George Moore to Ed. Dujardin, 1886-1922", Norwood Editions
* [http://research.hrc.utexas.edu:8080/hrcxtf/view?docId=ead/00299.xml&query=dujardin&query-join=and Dujardin's papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center]
* [http://www.pasteur.fr/infosci/archives/dbz1.html Biographical summary (Homonym scientist in French)]

External links

* [http://research.hrc.utexas.edu:8080/hrcxtf/view?docId=ead/00299.xml&query=dujardin&query-join=and Dujardin Papers] , [http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/fa/lfdujardin.html Dujardin Photography Collection] at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin