ARLAND, MARCEL

born July 5, 1899, Varennes-sur-Amance, France died Jan 12, 1986, Brinville, near Fountainebleau French writer who first achieved wide literary recognition in 1929 when his novel L'Ordre earned him the prestigious Prix Goncourt. Arland received his baccalaurat in 1918 and attended classes at the Sorbonne, where he earned a licence-s-lettres (equivalent to a B.A.) before giving up his formal studies. In the early 1920s he and Andr Maurois were partners in the launching of two literary reviews, Aventure and Ds, and in 1925 Arland began a long association with La Nouvelle Revue Franaise (NRF). For many years before and after World War II, Arland shared direction of the NRF with Jean Paulhan. After Paulhan died in 1968, Arland served as sole director until 1977. Arland termed some of his novels rcits (after Andr Gide). His wide-ranging output included such rcits as Terres trangres (1923; Foreign Lands) and Zlie dans le dsert (1944; Zlie in the Desert); such short stories as L'Eau et le feu (1956; Water and Fire) and perdre haleine (1960; Out of Breath); and numerous collections of essays and critical studies, among them Marivaux (1949) and La Grce d'crire (1955; The Gift of Writing). Lumire du soir (1983; Evening Light) was the last work published in his lifetime. Arland was elected to the French Academy in 1968.