Charles Péguy

Charles Péguy (1873-1914), French poet and essayist, considered one of the foremost modern Roman Catholic writers. He was the founder of Cahiers de la Quinzaine (Fortnightly Notebooks, 1900-1914), a periodical that published the work of many significant writers of the period. Dedicated to the cause of social justice, he was a staunch supporter of the French army officer Alfred Dreyfus. Péguy himself was killed in action at the Battle of the Marne in World War I.

Outstanding among Péguy's powerful, chant-like religious verse, devoted to the theme of spirituality in action, is Le Mystère de la charité de Jeanne d'Arc (1910; trans. 1950). Among numerous translations of his collected works is God Speaks (1945).