French Literature Reviews - 2026
É. Lepicard, L’Homme, cet inconnu d’Alexis Carrel (1935). Anatomie d’un succès, analyse d’un échec
History, Politics and Society
Étienne Lepicard
L’Homme, cet inconnu d’Alexis Carrel (1935). Anatomy of a Success, Analysis of a Failure
Classiques Garnier, coll. "Littérature, histoire, politique", n° 38, 2019.
517 p.
ISBN: 978-2-406-08805-9
A major publishing event in 1935, Carrel's work was later cited during the Doctors' Trial at Nuremberg. Adopting a cultural and literary approach, this study of the Nobel laureate's essay sheds light on contemporary ethical debates—or the lack thereof—particularly regarding eugenics and euthanasia.
Alexis Carrel’s 1935 essay became a significant cultural phenomenon, reaching a wide audience during the interwar period. The work reflects the intellectual climate of the era, characterized by an intense fascination with biological determinism and the intersection of scientific discourse with social policy. Readers interested in the history of twentieth-century scientific thought and its ethical implications may find this analysis relevant.
This study of L’Homme, cet inconnu addresses the legacy of Carrel’s work, which was cited during the Doctors' Trial at Nuremberg. Adopting a cultural and literary approach, the book examines the Nobel laureate's essay in relation to contemporary ethical debates, particularly regarding eugenics and euthanasia, and notes the lack of such discourse at the time of the original publication.