review slip laid in

When the First World War was declared, Duhamel signed up and worked as an army surgeon for four years, often in dangerous situations. This painful experience provided the subject matter for two narratives which brought him immediate success, Vie des martyrs and Civilization (which won him the prix Goncourt in 1918). Once he returned to civilian life, Duhamel dedicated himself to literature and defending human civilisation. During the Second World War Duhamel's work was banned by the Germans. He showed courage in his opposition to the occupation and the Petanist fraction of the Académie française, later receiving public praise from Général de Gaulle.

wrote poetry but primarily novels