Biography Benjamin_Fondane

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 debut years
1.3 in besieged moldavia , relocation bucharest
1.4 sburătorul, contimporanul, insula
1.5 move france
1.6 surrealist episode
1.7 philosophical debut
1.8 integral , unu
1.9 rimbaud le voyou, ulysse , intellectual prominence
1.10 anti-fascist causes , filming of rapt
1.11 tararira world war ii
1.12 first captivity , clandestine existence
1.13 deportation , death

biography
early life

fondane born in iași, cultural capital of moldavia, on november 14, 1898, but, noted in diary kept @ age 16, birthday officially recorded november 15. fondane son of isac wechsler , wife adela (née schwartzfeld), bore sisters lina (b. 1892) , rodica (b. 1905), both of whom had careers in acting. wechsler jewish man hertza region, ancestors having been born on fundoaia estate (which poet later used basis signature). adela intellectual family, of noted influence within urban jewish community: father, poet b. schwartzfeld, owner of book collection, while uncles elias , moses both had careers in humanities. adela herself acquainted intellectual elite of iași, jewish ethnic romanian, , kept recollections of encounters authors linked junimea society. through moses schwartzfeld, fondane related socialist journalist avram steuerman-rodion, 1 of literary men nurtured boy s interest in literature.

the young benjamin avid reader, interested in moldavian classics of romanian literature (ion neculce, miron costin, dosoftei, ion creangă), romanian traditionalists or neoromantics (vasile alecsandri, ion luca caragiale, george coșbuc, mihai eminescu) , french symbolists. in 1909, after graduating school no. 1 (an annex of trei ierarhi monastery), admitted alexandru cel bun secondary school, did not excel student. restless youth (he recalled having had first love affair @ age 12, girl 6 years senior), fondane twice failed remove before age of 14.

benjamin divided time between city , father s native region. latter s rural landscape impressed him greatly, and, enduring in memory, became setting in several of poems. adolescent fondane took extended trips throughout northern moldavia, making debut in folkloristics writing down samples of narrative , poetic tradition in various romanian-inhabited localities. among childhood friends future yiddish-language writer b. iosif, whom spent time in iași s podul vechi neighborhood. in context, fondane met yiddishist poet iacob ashel groper—an encounter shaped fondane s intellectual perspectives on judaism , jewish history. @ time, fondane became known family , friends mielușon (from miel, romanian lamb , , in reference bushy hairdo), name later used colloquial pseudonym.

although fondane later claimed have started writing poetry @ age eight, earliest known contributions genre date 1912, including both pieces of own , translations such authors andré chénier, joseph freiherr von eichendorff, heinrich heine , henri de régnier. same year, of these published, under pseudonym i. g. ofir, in local literary review floare albastră, owner, a. l. zissu, later noted novelist , zionist political figure. later research proposed these, other efforts of 1910s, collective poetry samples, resulting collaboration between fondane , groper (the former translating latter s poetic motifs romanian). in 1913, fondane tried hand @ editing student journal, signing editorial pen name van doian, produced several handwritten copies of single issue.

debut years

fondane s actual debut dates 1914, during time when became student @ national high school iași , formally affiliated provincial branch of nationwide symbolist movement. year, samples of lyric poetry published in magazines valuri , revista noastră (whose owner, writer constanța hodoș, offered fondane job on editorial board, unaware corresponding high school student). in 1914, moldavian symbolist venue absolutio, edited isac ludo, featured pieces signed pen name i. hașir. among national high school colleagues alexandru al. philippide, future critic, remained 1 of fondane s best friends (and poetry fondane proposed publishing in revista noastră). late in 1914, fondane began short collaboration iași symbolist tribune vieața nouă. while several of poems published there, review s founder ovid densusianu issued objections content, and, in subsequent correspondence, each writer outlines stylistic disagreements other.

during first 2 years of world war , romania s neutrality, young poet established new contacts within literary environments of iași , bucharest. according brother-in-law , biographer paul daniel, amazing how many pages of poetry, translations, prose, articles, chronicles have been written fundoianu in interval. in 1915, 4 of patriotic-themed poems published on front page of dimineața daily, campaigned romanian intervention against central powers (they first of several contributions fondane signed pen name alex. vilara, later al. vilara). parallel contribution bârlad-based review revista critică (originally, cronica moldovei) more strenuous: fondane declared himself indignant editorial staff not send him galley proofs, , received instead irritated reply manager al. Ștefănescu; featured poems in 3 separate issues of revista critică. @ around time, wrote memoir of childhood, note dintr-un confesional ( notes confessional ).

around 1915, fondane discovered journalistic tandem of tudor arghezi , gala galaction, both of whom modernist authors, left-wing militants , symbolist promoters. pieces fondane sent arghezi , galaction s cronica paper received enthusiasm, reaction surprised , impressed young author. although poems went unpublished, iași-themed article doua capitală ( second capital ), signed al. vilara, featured in april 1916 issue. follower of arghezi, involved in raising awareness arghezi s unpublished verse, agate negre ( black diamonds ) cycle.

remaining close friends fondane, galaction later made persistent efforts of introducing him critic garabet ibrăileanu, purpose of having him published poporanist viața românească review, ibrăileanu refused recognize fondane affiliate. fondane had more success in contacting flacăra review , publisher constantin banu: on july 23, 1916, hosted sonnet eglogă marină ( marine eglogue ). between 1915 , 1923, fondane had steady contribution romanian-language jewish periodicals (lumea evree, bar-kochba, hasmonaea, hatikvah), published translations international representatives of yiddish literature (hayim nahman bialik, semyon frug, abraham reisen etc.) under signatures b. wechsler, b. fundoianu , f. benjamin. fondane completed work on translation of ahasverus drama, jewish author herman heijermans.

fondane (left) , f. brunea-fox, flanking iosif ross. 1915 photograph

his collaboration bucharest-based rampa (at time daily newspaper) began in 1915, debut theatrical chronicler, , later carpathian-themed series in travel writing genre, pe drumuri de munte ( on mountain roads ). 1 signed or unsigned piece per issue on following years, fondane 1 of more prolific contributors newspaper, , made use of either pseudonyms (diomed, dio, funfurpan, const. meletie) or initials (b. f., b. fd., fd.). these included january 1916 positive review of plumb, first major work romania s celebrated symbolist poet, george bacovia.

in besieged moldavia , relocation bucharest

in 1917, after romania joined entente side , invaded central powers, fondane in iași, romanian authorities had retreated. in context met , befriended doyen of romanian symbolism, poet ion minulescu. minulescu , wife, author claudia millian, had left home in occupied bucharest, and, spring 1917, hosted fondane @ provisional domicile in iași. millian later recalled husband had been impressed moldavian teenager, describing him rare bird , poet of talent . same year, @ age 52, isac wechsler fell ill typhus , died in iași s sfântul spiridon hospital, leaving family without financial support.

at around time, fondane began work on poetry cycle priveliști ( sights or panoramas , finished in 1923). in 1918, became 1 of contributors magazine chemarea, published in iași leftist journalist n. d. cocea, symbolist writer ion vinea. in political climate marked peace of bucharest , romania s remilitarization, fondane used cocea s publication protest against arrest of arghezi, had been accused of collaborationism central powers. in context, fondane spoke of arghezi being romania s greatest contemporary poet (a verdict later approved of mainstream critics). according 1 account, fondane worked briefly fact checker arena, periodical managed vinea , n. porsenna. time chemarea resulted in publication of biblical-themed short story tăgăduința lui petru ( peter s denial ). issued chemarea s publishing house in 41 bibliophile copies (20 of remained in fondane s possession), opened tract o lămurire despre simbolism ( explanation of symbolism ).

in 1919, upon war s end, benjamin fondane settled in bucharest, stayed until 1923. during interval, changed domicile: after stay @ sister lina s home in obor area, moved on lahovari street (near piața romană), in moșilor area, before relocating văcărești (a majority jewish residential area, lived in 2 successive locations), , house short distance away foișorul de foc. between these changes of address, established contacts symbolist , avant-garde society of bucharest: personal friend of graphic artist iosif ross, formed informal avant-garde circle of own, attended writers f. brunea-fox, ion călugăru, henri gad, sașa pană, claude sernet-cosma , ilarie voronca, artist-director armand pascal (who, in 1920, married lina fundoianu). pană later note dominant status within group, describing him stooping green-eyed youth iași, standard-bearer of iconoclasts , rebels of new generation .

the group joined other friends, among them millian , painter nicolae tonitza. in addition, fondane , călugăru frequented artistic , literary club established controversial alexandru bogdan-pitești, cultural promoter , political militant influence spread on several symbolist milieus. in 1922 piece rampa, remembered bogdan-pitești in ambivalent terms: not stand moral elevation. [...] made of greatest of joys, in purulent of bodies. how many generations of ancient boyars had come pass, unworthy dung, singular earth generated?

pressed on family , prospects of financial security, fondane contemplated becoming lawyer. having passed baccalaureate examination in bucharest, was, according own account, registered student @ university of iași law school, obtaining graduation certificate prevented becoming licentiate opposition of faculty member a. c. cuza, antisemitic political figure. according recollection of poet adrian maniu, fondane again worked fact checker months after arrival capital. activity journalist allowed him interview arnold davidovich margolin, statesman of defunct ukrainian people s republic, whom discussed fate of ukrainian jews before , after soviet russian takeover.

sburătorul, contimporanul, insula

over following years, restarted career in press, contributing various nationally circulated newspapers: adevărul, adevărul literar și artistic, cuvântul liber, mântuirea, etc. main topics of interest literary reviews, essays reviewing contribution of romanian , french authors, various art chronicles, , opinion pieces on social or cultural issues. special case collaboration mântuirea, zionist periodical founded zissu, where, between august , october 1919, published studies collection iudaism și elenism ( judaism , hellenism ). these pieces, alternating similar articles galaction, showed how young man s views in cultural anthropology had been shaped relationship groper (with whom nevertheless severed contacts 1920).

fondane renewed collaboration rampa. , contributor magazine, journalist tudor teodorescu-braniște, carried out debate in magazine s pages: fondane s articles defended romanian symbolism against criticism teodorescu-braniște, , offered glimpse personal interpretation of symbolist attitudes. 1 piece wrote in 1919, titled noi, simboliștii ( symbolists ) stated proud affiliation current (primarily defined him artistic transposition of eternal idealism), , comprised slogan: many not strong, , few not intelligent. in may 1920, of rampa contributions spoke out against octavian goga, culture minister of alexandru averescu executive, contemplated sacking george bacovia office of clerk. same year, lumea evree published verse drama fragment monologul lui baltazar ( belshazzar s soliloquy ).

around time of relocation bucharest, fondane first met moderate modernist critic eugen lovinescu, , afterward became both affiliate of lovinescu s circle , contributor literary review sburătorul. among first contributions there retrospective coverage of boxing match between jack dempsey , georges carpentier, comprised reflections on mythical power of sport , clash of cultures. although sburătorist, still in contact galaction , left-wing circles. in june 1921, galaction paid homage daring benjamin in article adevărul literar și artistic, calling attention fondane s overwhelming originality.

a year later, fondane employed vinea s new venue, prestigious modernist venue contimporanul. having debuted in first issue comment on romanian translation projects (ferestre spre occident, windows on occident ), later assigned theatrical column. fondane s work again featured in flacăra magazine (at time under minulescu s direction): poem ce simplu ( how simple ) , essay istoria ideii ( history of idea ) both published there in 1922. same year, assistance fellow novelist felix aderca, fondane grouped earlier essays on french literature imagini și cărți din franța ( images , books france ), published editura socec company. book included first romanian study of marcel proust s contribution novelist. author announced planning similar volume, grouping essays romanian writers, both modernists (minulescu, bacovia, arghezi, maniu, galaction) , classics (alexandru odobescu, ion creangă, constantin dobrogeanu-gherea, anton pann), work not published in lifetime.

also in 1922, fondane , pascal set theatrical troupe insula ( island ), stated commitment avant-garde theater. named after minulescu s earlier symbolist magazine, group local replica of jean copeau s nonconformist productions in france. hosted maison d art galleries in bucharest, company joined by, among others, actresses lina fundoianu-pascal , victoria mierlescu, , director sandu eliad. other participants writers (cocea, pană, zissu, scarlat callimachi, mărgărita miller verghy, ion pillat) , theatrical people (george ciprian, marietta sadova, soare z. soare, dida solomon, alice sturdza, ionel Țăranu).

although stated goal of revolutionizing romanian repertoire (a goal published art manifesto in contimporanul), insula produced conventional symbolist , neoclassical plays: inaugural shows included legenda funigeilor ( gossamer legend ) Ștefan octavian iosif , dimitrie anghel, 1 of lord dunsany s 5 plays , (in fondane s own translation) molière s le médecin volant. aiming enrich program samples of yiddish drama, fondane began, never finished, translation of s. ansky s dybbuk. troupe ceased activity in 1923, partly because of significant financial difficulties, , partly because of rise in antisemitic activities, put jewish performers @ risk. while, insula survived conference group, hosting modernist lectures on classical romanian literature—with participation of symbolist , post-symbolist authors such aderca, arghezi, millian, pillat, vinea, n. davidescu, perpessicius, , fondane himself. @ time working on own play, filoctet ( philoctetes , later finished philoctète).

move france

armand pascal s self-portrait , last known depiction (1929)

in 1923, benjamin fondane left romania france, spurred on need prove himself within different cultural context. @ time interested in success of dada, avant-garde movement launched abroad romanian-born author tristan tzara, in collaboration several others. not dissuaded fact sister , brother-in-law (the pascals) had returned impoverished extended stay in paris, fondane crossed europe train , partly foot.

the writer (who adopted francized name shortly after leaving native country) joined there pascals. 3 of them continued lead bohemian , @ times precarious existence, discussed in fondane s correspondence romanian novelist liviu rebreanu, , described researcher ana-maria tomescu humiliating poverty . poet acquired sources of income contacts in romania: in exchange contribution circulation of romanian literature in france, received official funds culture ministry s directorate (at time headed minulescu); in addition, published unsigned articles in various newspapers, , relied on handouts romanian actress elvira popescu (who visited home, did avant-garde painter m. h. maxy). translated french zissu s novel amintirile unui candelabru ( recollections of chandelier ). while, poet joined colleague ilarie voronca on legal department of l abeille insurance company.

after period of renting furnished rooms, fondane accepted offer jean, brother of deceased literary theorist remy de gourmont, and, employed librarian-concierge, moved gourmonts museum property on rue des saints-pères, distance away celebrated literary café les deux magots. in 6 years before pascal s 1929 death, fondane left gourmont s house and, sister , brother-in-law, moved succession of houses (on rue domat, rue jacob, rue monge), before settling historical building once inhabited author bernardin de saint-pierre (rue rollin, 6). complaining eye trouble , exhaustion, , several times threatened insolvency, fondane left paris resort of arcachon.

claudia millian, spending time in paris, described fondane s new focus on studying christian theology , catholic thought, hildebert gourmont s own latin mystique (it @ stage romanian writer acquired , sent home part of gourmont s bibliophile collection). coupled these activities interest in grouping cultural segments of romanian diaspora: around 1924, , millian founding members of society of romanian writers in paris, presided upon aristocrat elena văcărescu. meanwhile, fondane acquired profile on local literary scene, and, in personal notes, claimed have had works praised novelist andré gide , philosopher jules de gaultier. both idols: gide s work had shaped own contribution in prose poem genre, while gaultier did same philosophical outlook. self-exiled debutant nevertheless still viewing career despair, describing languishing, , noting there chance of him failing earn solid literary reputation.

surrealist episode

the mid-1920s brought benjamin fondane s affiliation surrealism, post-dada avant-garde current centered in paris. fondane rallied belgian surrealist composers e. l. t. mesens , andré souris (with whom signed manifesto on modernist music), , supported surrealist poet-director antonin artaud in efforts set theater named after alfred jarry (which not, however, all-surrealist venue). in context, tried persuade french surrealist group tour native country , establish contacts local affiliates.

by 1926, fondane grew disenchanted communist alignment proposed main surrealist faction , mentor, andré breton. writing @ time, commented ideological drive prove fatal: perhaps never again [a poet] recover absolute freedom had in bourgeois republic. few years later, romanian writer expressed support anti-breton dissidents of le grand jeu magazine, , witness @ 1930 riot opposed 2 factions. anti-communist discourse again aired in 1932: commenting on indictment of surrealist poet louis aragon communist texts (read authorities instigation murder), fondane stated did believe aragon s case covered freedom of speech. ideas brought him conflict pierre drieu la rochelle, moving away avant-garde background , realm of far right ideas. 1930s, fondane in contact mainstream modernist jacques rivière , nouvelle revue française circle.

in 1928, own collaboration surrealists took shape book trois scenarii: ciné-poèmes ( 3 scenarios: cine-poems ), published documents internationaux de l esprit nouveau collection, artwork american photographer man ray , romanian painter alexandru brătășanu (one of other contacts in french surrealist photographers group eli lotar, illegitimate son of arghezi). cine-poems intentionally conceived unfilmable screenplays, in personal statement artistic compromise between experimental film , emerging worldwide film industry. book notably comprised verdict cinema being art never classical.

philosophical debut

with time, fondane became contributor newspapers or literary journals in france, belgium, , switzerland: regular presence in cahiers du sud of carcassonne, had work featured in surrealist press (discontinuité, le phare de neuilly, bifur), in le courrier des poètes, le journal des poètes, romain rolland s europe, paul valéry s commerce etc. in addition, fondane s research hosted specialized venues such revue philosophique, schweizer annalen , carlo suarès cahiers de l Étoile. after long period of indecision, romanian poet became dedicated follower of lev shestov, russian-born existentialist thinker ideas eternal opposition between faith , reason expanded upon in later texts. according intellectual historian samuel moyn, fondane was, rachel bespaloff, 1 of significant , devoted of shestov s followers . in 1929, frequenter of shestov s circle, fondane met argentinian female author victoria ocampo, became close friend (after 1931, became contributor modernist review, sur). fondane s essays more before philosophical in nature: europe published tribute shestov (january 1929) , comments of edmund husserl s phenomenology, included own critique of rationalism (june 1930).

invited (on ocampo s initiative) amigos del arte society of buenos aires, fondane left argentina , uruguay in summer 1929. object of visit promoting french cinema set of lectures in buenos aires, montevideo , other cities (as later stated in rampa interview sarina cassvan-pas, introduced south americans work of germaine dulac, luis buñuel , henri gad). in context, fondane met essayist eduardo mallea, invited him contribute in la nación s literary supplement. other activities there included conferencing on shestov @ university of buenos aires , publishing articles on several subjects (from shestov s philosophy poems of tzara), fees received in return were, in own account, small cover cost of decent living.

in october 1929, fondane in paris, focused on translating , popularizing of romanian literature s milestone texts, mihai eminescu s sărmanul dionis poetry of ion barbu, minulescu, arghezi , bacovia. in same context, expatriate writer helped introduce romanians of new european tendencies, becoming, in words of literary historian paul cernat, first important promoter of french surrealism in romanian culture.

integral , unu

in mid-1920s, fondane , painter jános mattis-teutsch joined external editorial board of integral magazine, avant-garde tribune published in bucharest ion călugăru, f. brunea-fox , voronca. assigned permanent column, known fenêtres sur l europe/ferestre spre europa (french , romanian windows on europe ). barbu florian, fondane became leading film reviewer magazine, pursuing agenda in favor of non-commercial , pure films (such rené clair s entr acte), , praising charlie chaplin lyricism, later making concessions talkies , regular hollywood films. exploring defined great ballet of contemporary french poetry , fondane published individual notes on writers aragon, jean cocteau, joseph delteil, paul Éluard , pierre reverdy. in 1927, integral hosted 1 of fondane s replies communist surrealists in france, le surréalisme et la révolution ( surrealism , revolution ).

he came contact unu, surrealist venue of bucharest, edited several of avant-garde friends @ home. contributions there included text on tzara s post-dada works, analyzed valéry-like pure poetry . in december 1928, unu published of fondane s messages home, scrisori pierdute ( lost letters ). between 1931 , 1934, fondane in regular correspondence unu writers, in particular stephan roll, f. brunea-fox , sașa pană, being informed conflict voronca (attacked betrayer of avant-garde) , witnessing afar eventual implosion of romanian surrealism on model of french groups. in such dialogues, roll complains right-wing political censorship in romania, , speaks in detail own conversion marxism.

with fondane s approval , minulescu s assistance, priveliști saw print in romania during 1930. published editura cultura națională, sparked significant controversy nonconformist style, made author target of critics interest. consequence, fondane sending material isac ludo s adam review, of notes (some hostile) clarifying ambiguous biographical detail discussed in aderca s chronicle priveliști. profile within local avant-garde acknowledged in italy , germany: milanese magazine fiera letteraria commented on poetry, reprinting fragments featured in integral; in issue of august–september 1930, expressionist tribune der sturm published samples of works, alongside of 9 other romanian modernists, translated leopold kosch.

as paul daniel notes, polemics surrounding priveliști lasted year, , fondane largely forgotten romanian public after moment. however, discovery of fondane s avant-garde stance traditionalist circles took form of bemusement or indignation, lasted next decades. conservative critic const. i. emilian, 1931 study discussed modernism psychiatric condition, mentioned fondane 1 of leading extremists , , deplored abandonment of traditionalist subjects. 9 years later, antisemitic far right newspaper sfarmă-piatră, through voice of ovidiu papadima, accused fondane , jews of having purposefully maintained illusion of literary movement under lovinescu s leadership. nevertheless, before date, lovinescu himself had come criticize former pupil (a disagreement echoed larger conflict unu group). in 1930s, fondane s work received coverage in articles of 2 other maverick modernists: perpessicius, viewed noted sympathy, , lucian boz, found new poems touched prolixity .

rimbaud le voyou, ulysse , intellectual prominence

back in france, had become shestov s assistant, fondane beginning work on other books: essay on 19th-century poet arthur rimbaud—rimbaud le voyou ( rimbaud hoodlum )—and, despite earlier pledge not return poetry, new series of poems. eponymously titled study-portrait of german philosopher martin heidegger published cahiers du sud in 1932. despite earlier rejection of commercial films, fondane became employee of paramount pictures, spurred on need finance personal project (reputedly, accepted there second application, first 1 having been rejected in 1929). worked first assistant director, before turning screenwriting. preserving interest in romanian developments, visited paris set of televiziune, romanian cinema production shared directorial credits. growing interest in voronca s own poetry led him review tudor arghezi s bucharest periodical, bilete de papagal, stated: mr. ilarie voronca @ top of form. m gladly placing stakes on him.

in 1931, poet married geneviève tissier, trained jurist , lapsed catholic. home on rue rollin subsequently became venue literary sessions, grouping cahiers du sud contributors. aspiring author paul daniel, became rodica wechsler s husband in 1935, attended such meetings wife, , recalls having met gaultier, filmmaker dimitri kirsanoff, music critic boris de schlözer, poets yanette delétang-tardif , thérèse aubray, shestov s daughter natalie baranoff. fondane enjoyed warm friendship constantin brâncuși, romanian-born modern sculptor, visiting brâncuși s workshop on daily basis , writing work in cahiers de l Étoile. witnessed first-hand , described brâncuși s primitivist techniques, likening work of savage man .

rimbaud le voyou published denoël & steele company in 1933, same year when fondane published poetry volume ulysse ( ulysses ) les cahiers du journal des poètes. rimbaud study, partly written reply roland de renéville s monograph rimbaud le voyant ( rimbaud seer ), consolidated fondane s international reputation critic , literary historian. in months after publication, book earned praise scholars , writers—from joë bousquet, jean cocteau, benedetto croce , louis-ferdinand céline, jean cassou, guillermo de torre , miguel de unamuno. found admirers in english poet david gascoyne, afterward in correspondence fondane, , american novelist henry miller. ulysse illustrated fondane s interest in scholarly issues: sent 1 autographed copy raïssa maritain, wife of jacques maritain (both of whom catholic thinkers). shortly after period, author surprised read voronca s own french-language volume ulysse dans la cité ( ulysses in city ): although puzzled similarity of titles own collection, described voronca great poet. then, in romania, b. iosif completed yiddish translation of fondane s psalmul leprosului ( leper s psalm ). text, left in care fondane before 1923 departure, first published in di woch, periodical set in romania poet yankev shternberg (october 31, 1934).

anti-fascist causes , filming of rapt

the 1933 establishment of nazi regime in germany brought fondane camp of anti-fascism. in december 1934, apelul studențimii ( call of students ) circulated among romanian diaspora, , featured passionate calls awareness: tomorrow, in concentration camps, late . following year, outlined critique of kinds of totalitarianism, l Écrivain devant la révolution ( writer facing revolution ), supposed delivered in front of paris-held international congress of writers defense of culture (organized left-wing , communist intellectuals support soviet union). according historian martin stanton, fondane s activity in film, jean-paul sartre s parallel beginnings novelist, political statement in support of popular front: [they were] hoping introduce critical dimensions in fields felt fascists had colonized. fondane nevertheless ridiculed communist version of pacifism parade of big words , noting opposed mere slogans concrete german re-armament. writing film magazine les cahiers jaunes in 1933, expressed ambition of creating absurd film absurd, satisfy [one s] absurd taste freedom .

fondane left paramount studios same year, disappointed company policies , without having had screen credit of own (although, claimed, there on 100 paramount scripts had unsigned contributions). during 1935, , kirsanoff in switzerland, filming of rapt, screenplay fondane (adapted charles ferdinand ramuz s la séparation des races novel). result highly poetic production, and, despite fondane s still passionate defense of silent film, first talkie in kirsanoff s career. poet enthusiastic collaboration, claiming had enjoyed reception spain canada, standing manifesto against success of more chatty sound films. in particular, french critics , journalists hailed rapt necessary break comédie en vaudeville tradition. in end, however, independent product not compete hollywood industry, @ time monopolizing french market. in parallel these events, fondane followed shestov s personal guidance and, means of cahiers du sud, attacked philosopher jean wahl s secular reinterpretation of søren kierkegaard s christian existentialism.

from tararira world war ii

despite selling many copies of books , having rapt played @ panthéon cinema, benjamin fondane still facing major financial difficulties, accepting 1936 offer write , assist in making of tararira, avant-garde musical product of argentine film industry. second option: initially, contemplated filming version of ricardo güiraldes don segundo sombra, met opposition güiraldes widow. while en route argentina, became friends georgette gaucher, breton woman, whom in correspondence rest of life.

under contract falma-film company, fondane received honors romanian argentine community, and, unusual cut of preferred suit, said have become trendsetter in local fashion. ocampo , sur staff, literary historian rosalie sitman notes, visit meant occasion defy xenophobic , antisemitic agenda of argentine nationalist circles. centered on tango, fondane s film enlisted contributions leading figures in several national film , music industries, having miguel machinandiarena producer , john alton editor; in starred, among others, orestes caviglia, miguel gómez bao , iris marga. manner in tararira approached subject scandalized argentine public, , rejected distributors (no copies survive, writer gloria alcorta, present @ private screening, rated masterpiece ). fondane, had earlier complained actors resistance ideas, left argentina before film finished. on return trip met jacques , raïssa maritain, whom , geneviève became friends.

with money received in buenos aires, writer contemplated returning on visit romania, abandoned such projects later in 1936, instead making way france. followed on publishing activity in 1937, when selected poems, titanic, saw print. encouraged reception given rimbaud le voyou, published 2 more essays denoël & steele: la conscience malheureuse ( unhappy consciousness , 1937) , faux traité d esthétique ( false treatise of aesthetics , 1938). in 1938, working on collected edition of ferestre spre europa, supposed published in bucharest never seeing print. @ around date, fondane presenter romanian edition of 20th century fox s international newsreel, movietone news.

in 1939, fondane naturalized french. followed independent initiative of société des écrivains français professional association, in recognition contribution french letters. cahiers du sud collected required 3,000 francs fee through public subscription, enlisting particularly large contributions music producer renaud de jouvenel (brother of bertrand de jouvenel) , philosopher-ethnologist lucien lévy-bruhl. months after event, outbreak of world war ii, fondane drafted french army. during of phoney war interval, considered old active service, in military reserve force, in february 1940 called under arms 216 artillery regiment. according lina, left [home] unimaginable courage , faith. stationed @ sainte assise castle in seine-port, edited , stenciled humorous gazette, l Écho de la c-ie ( 1st company echo ), published last-ever work of poetry, le poète en patrouille ( poet on patrolling duty ).

first captivity , clandestine existence

fondane captured germans in june 1940 (shortly before fall of france), , taken german camp prisoner of war. managed escape captivity, recaptured in short time. after falling ill appendicitis, transported paris, kept in custody @ val-de-grâce, , operated on. fondane released, german occupiers having decided no longer fit soldierly duty.

he working on 2 poetry series, super flumina babylonis (a reference psalm 137) , l exode ( exodus ), on last essay, focusing on 19th-century poet charles baudelaire, , titled baudelaire et l expérience du gouffre ( baudelaire , experience of abyss ). in addition these, other french texts, incomplete or unpublished 1944, include: poetic drama pieces philoctète, les puits de maule ( maule s , adaptation of nathaniel hawthorne s house of 7 gables) , le féstin de balthazar ( belshazzar s feast ); study life , work of romanian-born philosopher stéphane lupasco; , selection interviews shestov, sur les rives de l illisus ( on banks of illisus ). last text believed philosophical essay, le lundi existentiel ( existential monday ), on fondane working in 1944. little known provèrbes ( proverbs ), which, announced in 1933, supposed independent collection of poems.

according various accounts, fondane made point of not leaving paris, despite growing restrictions , violence. however, others note that, precaution against antisemitic measures in occupied north, made way more permissive zone libre, , made returns paris in order collect books. throughout interval, poet refused wear yellow badge (mandatory jews), and, living in permanent risk, isolated himself wife, adopting more precarious lifestyle. still in contact writers of various ethnic backgrounds, , active on clandestine literary scene. in context, fondane stated intellectual affiliation french resistance: former surrealist colleague paul Éluard published several of poems in pro-communist europe, under name of isaac laquedem (a nod wandering jew myth). such pieces later included, left unsigned, in anthology l honneur des poètes ( honor of poets ), published resistance activists anti-nazi manifesto. fondane preserved column in cahiers du sud long possible, , had contributions published in several other clandestine journals.

after 1941, fondane became friends romanian existentialist in france, younger emil cioran. closeness signaled important stage in latter s career: cioran moving away fascist sympathies , antisemitic stance, and, although still connected revolutionary fascist iron guard, had reintroduced cosmopolitanism own critique of romanian society. in 1943, transcending ideological boundaries, fondane had dinner mircea eliade, romanian novelist , philosopher, who, common friend cioran, had ambiguous connection far right. in 1942, own romanian citizenship rights, granted jewish emancipation of 1920s, lost antisemitic legislation adopted ion antonescu regime, officially banned entire work jewish . @ around time, old friends outside france made unsuccessful efforts obtain him safe conduct neutral countries. such initiatives notably taken jacques maritain new home in united states , victoria ocampo in argentina.

deportation , death

he arrested collaborationist forces in spring 1944, after unknown civilians reported jewish origin. held in custody gestapo, assigned local network of holocaust perpetrators: after internment in drancy transit camp, sent on 1 of transports extermination camps in occupied poland, reaching auschwitz-birkenau. in meantime, family , friends remained largely unaware of fate. after news of arrest, several of friends reportedly intervened save him, including cioran, lupasco , writer jean paulhan. according accounts, such efforts may have involved 1 of cioran s friends, essayist eugène ionesco (later known work in drama).

accounts differ on happened sister lina. paul daniel believes decided go looking brother, went missing, and, in probability, became victim of deportation. other sources state arrested @ around same time as, or with, brother, , both on same transport auschwitz. according other accounts, fondane in custody while sister not, , sent final letter drancy; fondane, had theoretical legal grounds being spared deportation (a christian wife), aware lina not invoke them, sacrificed himself side. while in drancy, sent letter, addressed geneviève, in asked french poetry published in future le mal des fantômes ( ache of phantoms ). optimistically, fondane referred himself traveler isn t done traveling .

while lina believed have been marked death upon arrival (and after sent gas chamber), brother survived camp conditions few more months. befriended 2 jewish doctors, moscovici , klein, whom spent free moments engaged in passionate discussions philosophy , literature. later attested survivor of camp, poet himself among 700 inmates selected extermination on october 2, 1944, when birkenau subsection outside brzezinka being evicted ss guards. aware of impending death, , reportedly saw ironic came near expected allied victory. after short interval in block 10, said have awaited death dignity , courage, driven gas chamber , murdered. body cremated, along of other victims.