Guyotat had been writing since the age of fourteen when, at sixteen, he sent his poems to René Char, who wrote back. Called up to Algeria in 1960, he was arrested there in the spring of 1962 and held incommunicado for three months for undermining the morale of the army, and drew a book from it. Eden, Eden, Eden was banned from display, from advertising and from sale to minors for eleven years, one of the longest censorships of the Fifth Republic. Three elements are carved, and nothing of the books.
The story
At sixteen he sent his poems to René Char. The poet answered and encouraged him. Pierre Guyotat had been writing since he was fourteen, in the Catholic boarding schools where he did his secondary studies.
Born at Bourg-Argental on 9 January 1940, son of a country doctor and of a mother born in Poland, he was called up to Algeria in 1960 — and arrested in the spring of 1962 in Greater Kabylia, then held incommunicado for three months for “undermining the morale of the army”. The experience would feed Tombeau pour cinq cent mille soldats.
In 1970 came Éden, Éden, Éden, at once struck by an order of the Ministry of the Interior banning its display, its advertising and its sale to minors: it was not lifted until November 1981, eleven years later.
He died in Paris on 7 February 2020, a month after his eightieth birthday. The stone in Division 55 carries three elements: “Pierre GUYOTAT, 1940-2020.” Neither the books, nor the prison, nor the censorship — a name, two dates, and nothing else.
The grave
An inscription reduced to three elements: “Pierre GUYOTAT, 1940-2020.” Neither the profession, nor Tombeau pour cinq cent mille soldats, nor Eden, Eden, Eden — the book that was banned for ten years —, nor the three months in prison for “demoralising the army”. He died the day before his eightieth birthday.
On site, do not miss
An inscription reduced to three elements: “Pierre GUYOTAT, 1940-2020.” Neither the profession nor a single book title.
Visitors' questions
Where is Pierre Guyotat's grave?
In Division 55, chemin du Chevet, first row. The inscription runs to three elements: “Pierre GUYOTAT, 1940-2020” — no trade named, not one of his books. He died in Paris on 7 February 2020, a month after his eightieth birthday.
Napoléon Henri ReberWhy was he imprisoned?
For “undermining army morale”: called up to Algeria in 1960, he was arrested in the spring of 1962 and spent three months in solitary, without trial, before being posted to a punishment unit. That experience fed Tomb for 500,000 Soldiers, published in 1967.
Marc FumaroliWas his work banned?
Yes: Éden, Éden, Éden, published in 1970, was banned for eleven years — from display, advertising and sale to minors, from October 1970 to November 1981. An international petition, signed by Sartre and Pasolini, changed nothing. It stands among the longest literary bans of the Fifth Republic.
Gisèle HalimiWho encouraged him to write?
René Char: at sixteen, Guyotat sent him his poems, and the poet wrote back and urged him on. He had been writing since he was fourteen, in the Catholic boarding schools where he was educated; at nineteen, he dropped everything for Paris.
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