André Gide, 1869 – 1951, holds a special place in the pantheon of French authors. As we explore Uzès and its surroundings, his presence quietly emerges through personal memories and literary echoes tied to this region.
With his rich and varied body of work—journalist, essayist, playwright, novelist, and more—he is known for seeking to challenge morality, including his own. Controversial and tormented by his homosexuality at a time when it was far less openly acknowledged than today, he expressed his attraction not only to men but also to young adolescents.
Among his major works are Les Faux-Monnayeurs (The Counterfeiters, 1925), long included in the official reading curriculum in French high schools, Les Nourritures terrestres (Fruits of the Earth, 1897), and La Symphonie Pastorale (The Pastoral Symphony, 1919). In his autobiography, Si le grain ne meurt (If It Die, 1926), he offers vivid and often delightful descriptions of the Uzès region we have just explored, as it was here that he spent his childhood holidays.
His influence on French literature also extended through his leading role at the Nouvelle Revue Française (NRF), which he helped shape in its early days. This literary journal played a major role in 20th-century French intellectual life, serving as a platform for new texts, debates, and exchanges. Now associated with the renowned publishing house Gallimard, the NRF remains a cornerstone of French literary culture. While André Gide is sometimes remembered for having refused Marcel Proust’s manuscript, he is also known for having deeply regretted that decision.
It was in Uzès that we encountered traces of André Gide’s family: near the Baroque-style Saint Étienne Church, a plaque commemorates the writer’s uncle. Objects belonging to the Gide family can also be found at the Georges Borias Museum, located at 1 place de l’évêché.
Through these subtle traces, Uzès offers a quiet but meaningful connection to one of France’s most complex and influential literary figures.
André Gide at age 4 — photograph by Renouard, Catherine Gide Foundation Archives (public domain)
Interested in visiting Uzès?
→ Find a selection of guided tours and activities
If you book through this link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Algoma 