The Royal Way Mass Market Paperback – January 1, 1935

I was so enamoured of Andre Malraux in my mid-teens that I read every word by him I could find, as well as stumbling through a number of French books that defied my modest knowledge of the language.Rereading him 50 years later, I realize I was dazzled by his good looks, cool hair, and the Gauloise (or was it a Gitane) perpetually dangling from his lips, not to mention his thrilling, if possibly fictitious, adventures in Cambodia, China, Spain, and WWII. (Well, apparently he really was a hero in Spain and WWII, but the earlier stuff ...)Whatever critical sense I had was in abeyance when I first read THE ROYAL WAY. Quite simply, it's a terrible novel, even though the subject could have made a very good one.I think I'll resist rereading THE CONQUERERS, though maybe there's still something to be said for CONDITION HUMAINE. Someone else will have to say it, however.Truly, I should have known that a political buddy of DeGaulle had to be at best a very minor writer.

Malraux is one of the most important writers of the 20 century. A hero of intellect and action. No soft patriot but one who worked for civilization, kindness, in war but more importantly, after war. This is one of his backbone books. Still. You should read his anti-memoirs if you miss everything else.