Rolland, Romain

Scope and Content

An appeal, entitled Déclaration d'indépendance de l'esprit , to intellectuals to forget the divisions made by World War One. Duplicated typescript sheet signed by Romain Rolland.

Administrative / Biographical History

Rolland was born in 1866 in the district of Nièvre, France. He studied literature, music and philosophy, going on to publish two doctoral theses. After some years as a school teacher he went on to teach at the Sorbonne. His interest in music motivated him to publish numerous critical pieces on famous composers as well as artists and writers. As well as being a critic he began to publish his own literature, culminating in the winning of the Nobel Prize in 1915 for his Jean-Christophe . The themes of truth, humanism and altruism are identified most explicitly within his literary work. He died in Vézelay, 1944.

Access Information

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Acquisition Information

Bought from Dene Bookshop, Abingdon, 1972.

Other Finding Aids

Collection level description.

Archivist's Note

Separated Material

The British Library, London, holds literary notebooks and essays, 1911-1919 (Ref: Zweig MSS 184-6), and letters to George Bernard Shaw, 1914-1919 (Add MSS 50548).

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Geographical Names