A series of publications about Andre Gide, one of the most important French writers of the 20th century, as well as the most popular works of the writer were exhibited at the National Library of Chisinau. The exhibition entitled: "Trailblazer. Andre Gide – 150th birth anniversary" was organized to highlight the personality of one of the initiators of modernism, the literary movement that shaped the literature of the 20th century, IPN reports.
General director of the National Library, Elena Pintilei, said that "Throughout the centuries the French language and literature have represented the cradle of the European civilization". "When you become acquainted with Andre Gide's work, you understand that he was a watchman for the literature at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century." According to Elena Pintilei, it is not by chance that French literature has always been considered as being at the forefront of European literatures, and Andre Gide is an example in this regard, for his works reflected the negative phenomena of industrialized civilization and the influence of civilization on the development of humanity.
Serge Casseri, first counselor responsible for cooperation and cultural action of the French Embassy in Chisinau, has mentioned that his country has been awarded many Nobel prizes for literature, one of them being obtained by Andre Gide. The writer had a complex personality, full of contradictions. Serge Casseri also stated that Andre Gide was a very committed writer, a defender of classicism. One of his best known works –The Pastoral Symphony (1919) - combines religious morality and feelings, a debate that was made into a movie.
Carolina Dodu-Savca, dean of the Philology Department at ULIM, argued that Andre Gide was a rebel, who carried his cross as the title of his work "Prometheus in chains" suggests. He was a rebel in writing, in thought, and mostly in morality.
Andre Gide, born in 1869, received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1947. Andre Gide is considered the leading figure of the French and international intellectual scene, who has shown courage by talking openly about justice, homosexuality, colonialism, etc. His works include poems, satires, plays, novels, essays, etc.
