Bernard Clavel


Bernard Charles Henri Clavel was a French writer.
Clavel was born in Lons-le-Saunier. From a humble background, he was largely self-educated. He began working as a pastry cook apprentice when he was 14 years old. He later had several jobs until he began working as a journalist in the 1950s. After the war, he worked for the social insurance, and he could not dedicate himself to literature until 1964. He lived and worked in many places, and was living in Savoy at the time of his death.
His first novel was L'Ouvrier de la nuit. He later published works for young people and numerous novels, at times organised into series: La grande patience, Les Colonnes du ciel, or Le Royaume du nord.
In his writings, he employed simple language and attached importance to humble characters and to the defence of humanist values by questioning violence and war.
He died in Grenoble.

Prizes and memberships

Partial bibliography

  • Cargo pour l'enfer, 1993
  • Malataverne, 1993
  • L'Arbre qui chante
  • Les Roses de Verdun
  • Collection La Grande Patience
  • # La Maison des autres
  • # Celui qui voulait voir la mer
  • # Le Cœur des vivants
  • # Les Fruits de l'hiver
  • Collection Les Colonnes du ciel
  • # La Saison des loups
  • # La Lumière du lac
  • # La Femme de guerre
  • # Marie Bon pain
  • # Compagnons du Nouveau Monde
  • Collection Le Royaume du nord
  • # Harricana, 1983
  • # L'Or de la terre, 1984
  • # Miséréré, 1985
  • # Amarok, 1987
  • # L'Angélus du soir, 1988
  • # Maudits sauvages, 1989

Film adaptations

Television adaptations