Pierre-Jules Renard (pronounced [pjɛʁ ʒyl ʁənaʁ]; 22 February 1864 – 22 May 1910) was a French novelist, playwright, and diarist. He was a member of the Académie Goncourt and is acclaimed for Poil de carotte (Carrot Top, 1894), a bitterly ironical account of his own childhood. His other famous works include, Les Histoires Naturelles (Nature Stories, 1896), Le Plaisir de rompre (The Pleasure of Breaking, 1898), and the posthumously published Huit Jours à la campagne (Eight Days in the Country, 1912).
Early life
The child of François Renard and Anna-Rose Colin, Renard was born in Châlons-du-Maine, Mayenne where his father was working on the construction of a railroad. Renard grew up in Chitry-les-Mines, (Nièvre). He had three older siblings, including Amélie (born 1858), who died at a young age. A second sister was also named Amélie (born 1859). A third child, Maurice, was born before Pierre-Jules in 1862. Renard's childhood was characterized as difficult and sad (un grand silence roux or “a great ruddy silence”). Although he decided not to attend the prestigious École normale supérieure, love of literature would eventually dominate his life. From 1885 to 86, he served in the military in Bourges.
Life and career
On 28 April 1888, Renard married Marie Morneau. He and his wife lived at 43 rue du Rocher in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris. He began to frequent literary cafés and to contribute to Parisian newspapers. Among his steady friends were Alfred Capus and Lucien Guitry. Jules Renard wrote poems, short stories, short plays, novels and his famous Poil de carotte. He was elected mayor (maire) of Chitry les mines (58) on 15 May 1904 as the socialist candidate and became a member of the Académie Goncourt in 1907, thanks to Octave Mirbeau. He died of arteriosclerosis in Paris.
