Maurice Genevoix

Born on November 29, 1890 in Decize, where he lived only a few months, he died on September 8, 1980 in Xàbia, Spain
In August 1914, at the time of the general mobilization, Maurice Genevoix, then a brilliant student at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, was drafted as a second lieutenant into the 106th infantry regiment. He took part in the battle of the Marne and the march on Verdun, and took part in the fighting, until he was seriously wounded in April 1915.
He devoted his convalescence to recounting the hell he went through with his comrades in the defence of Verdun. From this period, he wrote several novels, including "Sous Verdun" which was a success.
Gathered in 1949 in a collection of war stories, "Ceux de 14" is considered as one of the greatest testimonies of this conflict.
In love with the Loire and nature, he also had a passion for literature and won the Goncourt prize in 1925 with Raboliot. He was elected to the Académie Française in 1946 and remained its permanent secretary from 1958 to 1974.
By decision of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, Maurice Genevoix enters the Pantheon on November 11, 2020 where he is honored with his brothers in arms.
His birthplace is located at 11 avenue du 14 juillet (commemorative plaque above the entrance door) and the school of Decize bears his name.