Jacques Chardonne

Jacques Chardonne (born Jacques Boutelleau in Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, Charente on January 2, 1884; died in La Frette-sur-Seine on May 29, 1968) is the pseudonym of French writer Jacques Boutelleau. He was a member of the so-called Groupe de Barbezieux.

Early life and career

Raised Protestant, his American Quaker mother was an heiress to the Haviland porcelain dynasty and his father was French. His brother-in-law was of the Delamain cognac dynasty. This informed his trilogy Les Destinées Sentimentales. He was a leader of the Hussards and held in high regard for the award-winning Claire.

World War II

He supported collaboration with the Vichy and in 1940 produced "Private Chronicle 1940", which favored the submission of Europe to Adolf Hitler. He was a member of the Groupe Collaboration, an initiative that encouraged close cultural ties between France and Germany. After World War II he was denounced for Nazi collaboration and spent time in prison. In an article titled "Jacques Chardonne et Mein Kampf" the 'Frenchness' of his writing was also questioned.