Georges Cattaui (14 September 1896 – 1974) was a French writer of Egyptian-Jewish origin. First cousin of Jean de Menasce, he belonged to the Jewish aristocracy of Alexandria, where he spent his first years.

Biography

Born in Paris on 14 September 1896, Felix Georges Cattaui (son of Adolphe Cattaui and Rachel Francis), studied at the

Lycée Carnot The Lycée Carnot () is a public secondary and higher education school at 145 Boulevard Malesherbes in the 17th arrondissement, Paris, France. The Lycée Carnot was founded in 1869, first bearing the name of École Monge and then renamed in 1 ...

, and then studied law which opened his diplomatic career. He founded ''L'Atelier'' (the workshop) in Cairo and organized the third anniversary of the birth of Molière, then the popular university, a privileged place for French culture in Egypt. A secretary of King Fouad I he wrote the official speeches. He was secretary of the Legations in Prague, Bucharest and London. Between the two world wars, he took courses in

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

at the

University of Fribourg The University of Fribourg (; ) is a public university located in Fribourg, Switzerland. The roots of the university can be traced back to 1580, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg ...

. From 1936, he abandoned diplomacy and devoted himself to writing. After 1945, he wrote numerous columns in Le '' Journal de Genève''. Naturalized French he died in 1974 in

Gland A gland is a Cell (biology), cell or an Organ (biology), organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface. A gland may also funct ...

, Switzerland. From

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

confession he had converted to Catholicism in April 1928. While pursuing a career as a diplomat, he published several essays and biographies, particularly on

Marcel Proust Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust ( ; ; 10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist, literary critic, and essayist who wrote the novel (in French – translated in English as ''Remembrance of Things Past'' and more r ...

*In 1969 the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

bestowed him the

Prix du rayonnement français Prix was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1975 by Tommy Hoehn and Jon Tiven. The group ended up primarily as a studio project. Its recordings were produced by Tiven along with former Big Star member Chris Bell, who ...

.
Maurice Génevoix *In 1973 he obtained the prix Marcel Proust for his work ''Proust et ses métamorphoses''. *His work ''Proust, documents iconographiques'', published in 1956, remains the study of reference regarding the iconography of Marcel Proust.

Publications

*1925: ''Aux jeunes hommes d'Israël'', ', n° 5, September 1925 *1945: ''La Terre visitée'', Égloff *1953: ''Marcel Proust, Proust et son Temps, Proust et le Temps'', preface by Daniel-Rops,

Éditions Julliard Éditions Julliard is a French publishing house. It was founded in 1942 by René Julliard. Julliard was known as a discoverer and publisher of talents, in particular Françoise Sagan and Jean d'Ormesson. After Julliard's death in July 1962, the ...

*1956: ''Proust, documents iconographiques'', éditions Pierre Cailler, series "Visages d'hommes célèbres", 248 pages illustrated with 175 photos relating to Marcel Proust. *1958: ''

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist and playwright.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biography''. New York: Oxford University ...

'', Éditions universitaires *1960: ''

Jules Hardouin-Mansart Jules Hardouin-Mansart (; 16 April 1646 – 11 May 1708) was a French Baroque architect and builder whose major work included the Place des Victoires (1684–1690); Place Vendôme (1690); the domed chapel of Les Invalides (1690), and the Gra ...

'' *1960: ''

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

, l'homme et son destin'',

Fayard Fayard (complete name: ''Librairie Arthème Fayard'') is a French Paris-based publishing house established in 1857. Fayard is controlled by Hachette Livre. In 1999, Éditions Pauvert became part of Fayard. Claude Durand was director of Fayar ...

*1963: ''Proust perdu et retrouvé'', Plon *1964: '' Constantine P. Cavafy'' *1964: '' Charles Péguy, témoin du temporel chrétien'', Éditions du Centurion *1964: ''

Léon Bloy Léon Bloy (; 11 July 1846 – 3 November 1917) was a French Catholic novelist, essayist, pamphleteer (or lampoonist), and satirist, known additionally for his eventual (and passionate) defense of Catholicism and for his influence within Frenc ...

'', Éditions universitaires *1965: ''Orphisme et prophétie chez les poètes français 1850–1950'', Plon *1971: ''Proust'', Éditions universitaires, Le Livre de Poche *1973: ''L'Art baroque et rococo'', *1973: ''Proust et ses métamorphoses'', Nizet *1968: ''Actes'' du colloque de Cerisy devoted to

Paul Claudel Paul Claudel (; 6 August 1868 – 23 February 1955) was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism. Early lif ...

, under the direction of Georges Cattaui and Jacques Madaule

References

External links

HOMMAGE A GEORGES CATTAUI
on '' Revue des deux Mondes (August 1983)
Georges Cattaui
on the site of the Académie française
Georges cattaui
on Gallimard
1948 - Georges Cattaui
on ''Fribourg vu par les écrivains 1901–2000'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Cattaui, Georges 20th-century French writers 20th-century French male writers French biographers Lycée Carnot alumni English–French translators 1896 births 1974 deaths Marcel Proust Writers from Paris French male biographers Qatawi family French people of Egyptian-Jewish descent