Armand Camille Salacrou, a renowned French dramatist, was born on August 9, 1899, in Rouen, but spent a significant portion of his childhood in Le Havre. His early life took a dramatic turn in 1917 when he relocated to the vibrant city of Paris.
As he began to develop his creative voice, Salacrou's works showcased a striking influence from the Surrealists. Little did anyone know that beneath his artistic persona, he was secretly building a successful advertising firm. However, he eventually sold his company to dedicate his life to writing plays.
Encouraged by the prominent French director Charles Dullin, Salacrou embarked on a journey to master a wide range of writing styles. His remarkable talent earned him immense success from the mid-1930s onwards. As his career progressed, his work became closely associated with the Existentialist movement.
During the tumultuous 1920s, Salacrou flirted with communism and publicly criticized capitalism in his play Boulevard Durand. When the Nazi occupation of France took place, he courageously joined the clandestine French resistance, an experience he later immortalized in his play Les Nuits de la colère.
Throughout his illustrious career, Salacrou was a respected member of the Académie Goncourt. In recognition of his remarkable contributions, a library in his hometown was named after him.
Source: Article "Armand Salacrou" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
