Tharaud brothers

French writers

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Tharaud brothers, French brothers noted for the extent and diversity of their literary production spanning 50 years of collaboration. Many of the early works of Jérôme Tharaud (b. May 18, 1874, Saint-Junien, France—d. Jan. 28, 1953, Varengeville-sur-Mer) and Jean Tharaud (b. May 9, 1877, Saint-Junien, France—d. April 9, 1952, Paris) were published in the periodical Cahiers de la Quinzaine (“Fortnight Account”), edited by Charles Péguy, and one of them, the novel Dingley (1902), earned them the esteemed Prix Goncourt in 1906.

Precise observers, the brothers Tharaud were among the first and greatest of French reporters, recording their travels in such works as La Fête arabe (1912; “The Arab Festival”) and Rabat; ou, Les Heures marocaines (1918; “Rabat; or, the Moroccan Hours”). They also were concerned with the dynamics of current political events, particularly those of Jewish history, as seen in Quand Israël est roi (1921; “When Israel Is King”) and L’An prochain à Jérusalem (1924; “Next Year in Jerusalem”). The brothers Tharaud were also the authors of numerous novels and reminiscences, including La Randonné de Samba Diouf (1922; The Long Walk of Samba Diouf) and Notre cher Péguy (1926; “Our Dear Péguy”). They were both elected to the French Academy—Jérôme in 1938, Jean in 1946.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.