Auteur: Edward J. O. Brien

Henri Barbusse (1873–1935) was a French novelist and a committed pacifist who is best remembered for his poignant portrayal of the travails of war in his landmark novel « Le Feu » (translated as « Under Fire »), which won him the Prix Goncourt in 1916. His deep empathy and intimate acquaintance with the horrors of World War I shaped his literary career, informing his strong anti-war and socialist convictions. Barbusse »s seminal work « The Inferno » (« L »Enfer »), originally published in 1908, is a forerunner to existential literature, exploring the themes of isolation and the quest for truth as the protagonist eavesdrops on the lives of others through a hole in his boarding house room. « The Inferno » represents Barbusse »s experiment in psychological realism, reflecting his preoccupation with introspection and moral contemplation. His literary style is marked by a commitment to social justice and humanism, characteristics that endeared him to the left-wing literati of his time and which have cemented his position within the canon of 20th-century literature. Barbusse »s body of work, while not voluminous, is notable for its intense compassion and its unflinching examination of human suffering and the human condition.