His personal work is considerable but his animation of the French literary life is also important. By his passionate contribution to the Nouvelle Revue Française, he opens to French writers of all trends a better chance to have their voices heard.
Despite some extreme positions on morality his intellectual honesty is unquestionable, as for example when he acknowledges that his rejection of the first book submitted by Proust was a major blunder or when he gives up his temptation for supporting the Stalinism.
After World War II, the old writer significantly slows his activity. In 1947 the Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to him. The Nobel committee was courageous in this decision. revealing that its members had voluntarily waived his reputation of an incentive to depravity. A praising comment justified the decision by recognizing his role as an emancipator of the mind.
Gide's Nobel medal and diploma are sold in one lot by Christie's in Paris on April 22. It is estimated € 200K, lot 177.
SOLD for € 360K including premium
#AndréGide's #Nobel medal for #literature for sale tomorrow @ChristiesBKS Paris! https://t.co/PY87iNECzw pic.twitter.com/Nx3uSxqG9W
— Christie's Books (@ChristiesBKS) April 21, 2016