Jeanlouis Cornuz

Jeanlouis Cornuz was a Swiss writer.

Biography

Jeanlouis Cornuz was born in Lausanne, Switzerland. He studied literature at the University of Lausanne and at the University of Zürich. In 1946, at age 24, he worked as an interpreter during the Nuremberg international trials of Nazi German officials involved in the Holocaust. He then taught literature in Switzerland at state gymnasiums, and also worked as a teacher in the United States of America.
A skilled chess player, Cornuz was a respected columnist and journalist, contributing to various newspapers and magazines in Switzerland. From 1995 to 1998, he served as a benevolent editor-in-chief for the monthly l'Essor magazine. Additionally, he was politically active, representing the left-wing Popular Workers' Party as a delegate in the Canton de Vaud parliament. As a POP delegate, Jeanlouis Cornuz played a role in Swiss politics, advocating for workers’ rights and social equality. His political work aligned closely with the ethos of authors he admired, like Victor Hugo, whose writings were often politically charged.
Throughout his career, Cornuz authored numerous essays on prominent figures such as Jules Michelet, André Dhôtel, Gottfried Keller and Victor Hugo. He also contributed to radio and stage drama, alongside writing several novels. As a Germanist, Cornuz translated works by notable authors like Ernst Wiechert, Walter Diggelmann, Urs Schwarz, Wolfgang Leonhard, and Gottfried Keller from German into French.