The Novel of Adolescence in France: The Study of a Literary Theme
Earliest standalone book and a foundational study of French literary themes.
Author guide
Justin O'Brien Books in Order
Justin McCortney O'Brien (1906–1968) was an American professor of French literature at Columbia University. He wrote studies of French literary themes, a critical biography of André Gide, essays on modern French literature, and a detailed bibliography of Gide's collected works. He was also a prominent translator of André Gide and Albert Camus.
literary criticismliterary biographyessaysbibliography
Catalog record updated .
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Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (1)
- The Novel of Adolescence in France: The Study of a Literary Theme
nonfiction · 1937
Nonfiction (2)
- Portrait of André Gide: A Critical Biography
literary biography · 1953
- Les Nourritures terrestres d'André Gide et les Bucoliques de Virgile
literary criticism · 1953
Essays and speeches (2)
- The French Literary Horizon
essay collection · 1967
- Contemporary French Literature: Essays
essay collection · 1971
Other (1)
Frequently asked questions about Justin O'Brien
Who was Justin O'Brien?
Justin O'Brien (1906–1968) was an American professor of French literature, literary critic, biographer, and translator. He held the Blanche W. Knopf Professorship at Columbia University and became closely associated with André Gide and Albert Camus.
Sources: columbia.edu (opens in a new tab)data.bnf.fr (opens in a new tab)
What was Justin O'Brien known for as a translator?
He translated works by André Gide and Albert Camus into English, including Gide’s journals and Camus’s Exile and the Kingdom. His archival record also documents translations of writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Jean Cocteau.
Sources: search.worldcat.org (opens in a new tab)data.bnf.fr (opens in a new tab)
How was Justin O'Brien connected to André Gide?
O'Brien knew Gide from 1937, and their friendship and collaboration shaped O'Brien’s work as Gide’s biographer and English translator. Columbia later received a substantial Gide collection through O’Brien’s bequest.
Did Justin O'Brien receive any major fellowships or awards?
Yes. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in French in 1942.
Source: gf.org (opens in a new tab)
What is Justin O'Brien's literary legacy?
His legacy is preserved especially in Columbia’s Justin O’Brien papers and Gide holdings, which include correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, first editions, and other research materials. The collection documents his role in bringing major twentieth-century French writers to English-language readers.
Sources: columbia.edu (opens in a new tab)search.worldcat.org (opens in a new tab)