Robert ruark (1915-1965), journaliste et romancier : l'echec d'une reussite
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Abstract EN:
The american robert ruark was unquestionably one of the most famous journalists of his time, both as a reporter and as a columnist. But he was also a popular novelist and published several best sellers, notably something of value which was translated into ten languages and made into a film. After recalling the life of ruark and assessing the political significance of his columns, this thesis focuses on the main themes of his newspaper articles and books: africa (more particularly kenya on the eve of independence), big-game hunting and the quest for virility. Ruark's commercial success was enormous, his gifts undeniable and his talent was representative of a new trend in american publishing. But, however real, his literary qualities fell short of the calibre required to make him into a major writer, as was his lifetime ambition.
Abstract FR:
L'americain robert ruark fut sans conteste un des journalistes americains les plus celebres de son epoque, a la fois comme reporter et comme chroniqueur. Mais il fut aussi un romancier populaire et publia plusieurs best-sellers dont something of value, traduit en dix langues et adapte a l'ecran. Apres avoir rappele la vie de ruark et evalue l'importance politique de ses chroniques, cette these etudie les principaux themes de ses articles de presse et de ses livres: l'afrique (et, tout particulierement, le kenya a la veille de l'independance), la grande chasse et la quete de la virilite. Son succes commercial fut immense, ses dons de conteur et de chroniqueur indeniables, son talent representatif d'une nouvelle tendance dans l'edition americaine. Mais ses qualites litteraires, pourtant reelles, ne lui permirent pas de realiser l'ambition de sa vie: devenir un grand ecrivain.