orig. Louis Andrieux
born Oct. 3, 1897, Paris, Fr.
died Dec. 24, 1982, Paris
French poet, novelist, and essayist.
He was introduced by André Breton into avant-garde circles, and the two cofounded the Surrealist review Littérature in 1919. From 1927 he was increasingly a political activist and spokesman for communism, which resulted in a break with the Surrealists. Among his works are the novel tetralogy Le Monde réel , 4 vol. (1933–44), describing the class struggle of the proletariat; the huge novel Les Communistes , 6 vol. (1949–51); novels of veiled autobiography; and volumes of poems expressing patriotism and love for his wife. He was editor of the communist weekly of arts and literature, Les Lettres françaises , 1953–72.