Georges Bordonove (25 May 1920, Enghien-les-Bains, Seine-et-Oise – 16 March 2007, Antony, Hauts-de-Seine) was a French biographer and novelist.
Biography
Bordonove was a prolific writer of both books on history for a general readership and historical novels. His biographies, such as those of the kings of France, are characterised by short, dense chapters packed with detail including a potentially bewildering array of names and the citation of recorded conversations, sometimes in Old French with translations, but showing an evident sympathy for the subject, a desire to make a complete picture of his life and thought, and some sly humour.[1][2] However, his 1980s series Les Rois qui ont fait la France (The Kings who Made France) has been called "more hagiographic than strictly historical".[3] In his obituary in Le Monde, Philippe-Jean Catinchi wrote: "Despite his vision rarely conforming to the state of historical research, the public approved" and noted that he also contributed to a historical survey of everyday life.[4]
He was a member of the sustaining committee of the royalist Association Unité capétienne (Capetian Unity Society) and of the jury awarding its Hugues-Capet Prize.
He is buried in the cemetery of Le Château-d'Oléron on the island of Oléron.
Honours
- Officier (Officer) of the Légion d'honneur
- Award from the Académie française for novel Les Quatre Cavaliers and historical study Les Marins de l'An II
- Prix Goncourt for history for Le Naufrage de 'La Méduse'
- Grand prix des libraires (Booksellers' award)