Roland Dorgeles

Wooden Crosses (Dodo Press) Roland Dorgeles

Roland Dorgeles (1885-1973), was a French novelist and a member of the Academie Goncourt. Born Roland Lecavele (he adopted the pen name Dorgeles to commemorate visits to the spa town of Argeles), he spent his childhood in Paris. He took an active part in the beginning of World War One, and he attended the combat of Artois in 1915 within the 39e regiment of infantry. He was appointed machine gunner Corporal in 1915. A prolific author, he is most renowned for the Prix Femina-winning Wooden Crosses (Les Croix de Bois), a moving study of the war. It was published in 1919 (in English in 1921).