Octave Mirbeau antimilitariste

As a journalist, Mirbeau supported unknown writers and artists of his time as ardently as he denounced war, army and heroes in his novels. Jean Mintié of Calvary (1887), describes war as a useless slaughter of all fellowmen: whether compatriots or enemies. It is the military commanders whom Mirbeau makes responsible for the ravages of war and not the common soldiers trained to perpetuate violence on command. Love, crime, and sacrifice of one's life are for Jean Mintié (Calvary) and Sébastien Roch (Sébastien Roch), a means of revolt against the obedience and docility that military service imposes. As for the "tender" and peace-loving Mirbeau, in spite of the dark pessimism of his works born out of a struggle of forty years, he refused to adopt indifference toward crime and injustice, as an attitude toward life, becoming, on occasion, a man of violence in the name of justice. (In French) (AG)