‘The Thibaults’ by Roger Martin du Gard: Reflections on a Masterpiece
Reading The Thibaults (Les Thibault) was one of my highlights of 2024. Published originally in serial form between 1922 and 1940, the novel tells the story of a family—their historical context, their relationships, and their movements across the private and public spheres. World War I also casts a heavy shadow over the story, but du Gard keeps us guessing, drawing out the suspense and urges us not to think the war was simply inevitable. The…