ROLLAND, ROMAIN, a French
author; born at Clamecy, in 1866. He
received his education at the École
Normale Supérieure, became a professor of
the history of art at that school and
taught there until the Sorbonne offered
him a chair in his subject. He was
recognized by the Academy in 1895 for
his doctor's thesis. Later he wrote
several plays, remarkable more for their
style, vigor, and presentation of psychological
analysis than for conformity to
good dramatic construction. Beginning
in 1903, he published noteworthy
biographical and critical studies of musicians, artists, authors and upon aspects of the theater. He founded the “Revue Musicale” in 1901. As the author of “Jean-Christophe” he received one-quarter of the Nobel Prize in literature for 1915. This work, comprising three volumes has been translated into English and German.