MARAN, RENÉ, 1887-1960.
René Maran collection, 1933-1949

Restrictions on Access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Source

Purchased from Michel Fabre, 1999.

Custodial History

Upon his death, René Maran’s library was divided, with the majority of the books donated to the the University of Dakar and the rest given to cultural critic Michel Fabre, the founding director of the Center for Afro-American Studies at the University of Paris. Emory purchased the portion of the library that was in Fabre’s custody. The materials in this collection are items that were separated from the printed books.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], René Maran collection, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Processing

Arranged and described to the file level by Carrie Hintz, September, 2017.

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Biographical Note

René Maran was born in Martinique on November 5, 1887 to French Guianan parents. He lived in Martinique until his father, a French civil servant, was transferred to Gabon when Maran was seven. He stayed in Gabon for two years before beginning school in Bordeaux. Upon completion of his education, Maran returned to Gabon, this time as a civil servant himself, and his observations of French-colonial life informed much of his later writing, including his novel, Batouala: veritable roman nègre, for which he won the 1921 Prix Goncourt, an award given annually to honor the most outstanding book published in France. Maran was the first black writer to win this prize.

After the publication of this first book, Maran moved to Paris to dedicate himself to writing and to supporting and mentoring young writers. Maran died in France in 1960.

Scope and Content Note

The materials in this collection are items that were separated from books in René Maran's library. Many of the items indicate the volume from which volume they were removed.There are also some letters and manuscript materials that were acquired with the library.

Arrangement Note

Arranged into two groups, material removed from books and Maran’s correspondence and notes.