Henri Barbusse

Henri Barbusse was a French novelist and soldier whose works offered a searing critique of militarism and imperialism. His most celebrated novel, drawn from his own wartime experiences, unflinchingly depicted the horrors of World War I with stark naturalism, becoming a powerful anti-war statement. Following the war, Barbusse became a fervent advocate for revolutionary ideals, channeling his writing into a passionate defense of social justice and resistance against oppression. He sought to define a proletarian literature that would reflect the working class's perspective and champion societal transformation.