Author: 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.