Romain Rolland

Romain Rolland (1866-1944) was a French writer, playwright, and art historian. He is best known for his biography of the German composer, Beethoven, and for his novel, "Jean-Christophe," a series of ten novels published between 1904 and 1912.

Rolland was born in Clamecy, France. He was a brilliant student and earned a PhD in literature from the Sorbonne. He taught at the University of Paris and later became a professor of art history at the École des Beaux-Arts. He was also a playwright and wrote several plays, including "The Time of the Assassins" and "The Church of the People."

In addition to his writing, Rolland was an active participant in the cultural and political life of France. He was a pacifist and was involved in the peace movement during World War I. He was also a member of the French Communist Party and was a strong supporter of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915 for his novel "Jean-Christophe."

However, Rolland's support for the Soviet Union and communism caused him to fall out of favor with many in France and Europe. He was criticized for his support of the Soviet regime and was accused of being a Stalinist. Despite this, Rolland continued to write and produce plays and novels, and he remained active in the cultural and political life of France.

Rolland's works were widely read and influential in France and throughout Europe. His novel "Jean-Christophe" was considered one of the great works of modern literature, and his biography of Beethoven is still regarded as one of the finest works on the composer. He was also a pioneer in the study of Indian art and culture, and his works on this subject are still considered important contributions to the field.

In his later years, Rolland suffered from poor health and became increasingly isolated from the cultural and political life of France. He continued to write, however, and his final work, "The Battle of the Dawn," was published posthumously in 1945.