Customer Reviews (3)

Borrowed Thoughts
Roger Martin du Gard won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1937, one year after Eugene O'Neill and one year before Pearl Buck. Honestly, I've never read a word of his, but I'm eager to give him a try. There are no translations in print, so I've ordered the original Vol 1 of Les Thibaults from amazon-france. Here's the review, by a French reader, that prompted me to part with my money:

Il faut avoir du souffle pour entamer la lecture des Thibault car ce n'est pas moins de 5 tomes de la vie de cette famille, essentiellement composée de mâles, qu'il faut lire. Mais Roger Martin du Gard n'a pas obtenu le Nobel pour rien en récompense de ce roman (l'essentiel de son oeuvre). D'emblée, on se trouve jeté dans l'histoire de Jacques Thibault, le fils cadet, enfant au début de l'histoire et fugant avec son copain d'école Daniel. A sa poursuite, le grand frère aimant, Antoine, étudiant en médecine, lancé derrière Jacques par un père dur et intransigeant. Ce sont les Thibault. Par la suite, l'histoire égrainera les années, on verra Jacques passer son bac, Antoine devenir un brillant médecin et le père mourir. Et puis, la guerre 14 se pointera.
C'est une véritable saga sur une vingtaine d'année et des personnages révoltés, écorchés vifs, amoureux, pacifistes, touchés par la vie.
Les thibault, c'est plus qu'une tranche de vie, ce sont les prémices de ce qui fit basculer le siècle et c'est avant tout un très grand roman.

Rare Jewel
This is one of the best pieces of classic literature ever written.It is not quite clear why hardly anyone has ever heard about in the United States. The novel, by Nobel Prize winning du Gard, is revered in Europe.It is not to be missed by any serious reader.Beware, though, that this is not the complete work.The English translation is divided in two volumes.This one, The Thibaults, is followed by Summer 1914.And since it is the same opus, one really should read both.

If you can find this,read it
Ok, I admit I bought this book because i'll buy any book over 1000 pages. I was given volume one and spent the next five years looking for volume two.
This book is Proust with an editor.It follows the life of two brothers from 1892 to 1918.For the times this book is amazingly honest in it's views of life,death,sex,and love.It's the typeof book you savor because the authors death has slowed down his writing anything else. I've read his other books but this is the best. His postumous book is good,this is great. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An Immortal Classic
This is one of the best pieces of literature ever written well deserving of the Nobel prize for literature.It is hard to understand why it is almost unavailable in English.Important notice:this is only one part of the opus titled"Les Thibaults" in French and "The World of the Thibaults" in translation.The whole series has 8 parts, usually published as two tomes "The Thibaults" and "Summer of 1914."You really need to know what you are buying.

A Moving Experience
This is a rare book that combines social awareness, literary ambition, precious moments, friendship & love. I really loved this book in that you have to read between the lines. Relationship between Jaque & Jenny is so subtle & well written. Furthermore characters in this book are so, so alive.

A Moving Experience
This is a rare book that combines social awareness, literary ambition, precious moments, friendship & love. I really loved this book in that you have to read between the lines. Relationship between Jaque & Jenny is so subtle & well written. Furthermore characters in this book are so, so alive.

This is a stupendous work!
I found this book and its sequel, Summer 1914, a most moving and informative experience.If you haven't read thsesbooks you should. ... Read more