French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Duval-Stalla, André Malraux – Charles de Gaulle, One History, Two Legends
History, Politics and Society

Alexandre Duval-Stalla

André Malraux – Charles de Gaulle, One History, Two LegendsA Dual Biography

Foreword by Daniel Rondeau

Editions Gallimard

L'Infini Collection

416 pages

ISBN: 9782070119233

24.50 euros

Publisher's Description:

"First, the past…" These were the first words addressed by General de Gaulle to André Malraux at their first meeting. It is 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 18, 1945, at the Ministry of War on Rue Saint-Dominique in Paris. Two legends stand face to face: the leader of Free France and the mythical figure of the writer committed to the anti-fascist struggle of the interwar period. Without bothering with circumlocutions or polite formalities, General de Gaulle gets straight to the point: André Malraux and his past commitments. Initially surprised ("A surprising introduction"), Malraux begins by explaining the deep-seated reason for his commitment: "I committed myself to a struggle for, let's say, social justice. Perhaps, more precisely: to give men their chance..." Then, he goes on to explain his struggles against fascism in the 1930s: "I was president of the World Committee Against War and Fascism alongside Romain Rolland, and I went with Gide to deliver to Hitler—who did not receive us—the protest against the trial of Dimitrov and the other so-called Reichstag arsonists." He continues by discussing the Spanish Civil War, during which he fought alongside the Spanish Republican government against General Franco's military forces, taking great care to point out that he never compromised himself with Stalin's communists: "Then there was the Spanish War, and I went to fight in Spain. Not in the International Brigades, which did not yet exist, and to which we gave the time to exist: the Communist Party was still thinking..." Finally, André Malraux concludes with a profession of faith: "Then came the war, the real one. Finally, defeat arrived, and like many others, I married France…" The connection between the two men was immediate. Thus began an unwavering friendship at the highest level spanning more than twenty-five years. Yet, this first meeting was by no means a foregone conclusion. Indeed, it was long overdue.

The Author

A graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) and former secretary of the Conférence du Stage of the Paris Bar, Alexandre Duval-Stalla is an attorney specializing in business and criminal law.

This dual biography examines the profound intellectual and political relationship between General Charles de Gaulle and the writer André Malraux. Spanning over twenty-five years, their unwavering friendship linked the leader of Free France with a prominent literary figure known for his anti-fascist commitments during the interwar period, his participation in the Spanish Civil War, and his subsequent Resistance engagement. Alexandre Duval-Stalla traces the trajectory of these two monumental figures from their initial 1945 encounter through decades of shared national destiny, political upheaval, and mutual admiration, shedding light on the convergence of literature and statecraft in twentieth-century France.

The book will appeal to readers interested in modern French political history, biography, and the complex intersections between intellectuals and power. By setting their personal alliance against the backdrop of major historical crises, the author offers valuable insights into how both men shaped their respective public personas and national myths. This study serves as an essential resource for understanding the Gaullist era and the enduring legacy of writers who actively participated in the political struggles of their time, bridging the worlds of high culture and state leadership.