Jean Genet, a literary rebel born into a world of hardship, transformed his tumultuous life into a remarkable legacy of art and literature. Despite his beginnings as an orphaned and stigmatized child, he emerged as one of France's most captivating and controversial writers. Through his works, Genet explored the fringes of society, crafting narratives that resonated with authenticity and raw emotion.

Early Life and Troubled Beginnings

Jean Genet entered the world on December 19, 1910, in Paris, France, born to Gabrielle Genet, a prostitute, and an unnamed father. Abandoned from birth, he spent his formative years in a state-run orphanage, unaware of his mother's identity until later in life. At seven, he was placed with foster parents in the countryside. An incident of petty theft from his foster mother led to him being branded a thief, a label he embraced wholeheartedly. By his teenage years, Genet had become a habitual offender, finding himself confined to a reformatory.

Escaping into a Life of Wandering

At 21, Genet fled his past by enlisting in the French Foreign Legion, a decision that quickly soured as he deserted and embarked on a decade-long odyssey across Europe. His travels took him to places including Nazi Germany, where he continued his criminal exploits, engaging in theft, prostitution, pimping, and smuggling. His actions resulted in multiple arrests, imprisonments, and expulsions from various countries.

Writing Behind Bars

Returning to France during the German occupation in 1941, Genet was incarcerated once more for theft. It was within the confines of prison that he discovered a new passion: writing. His poem "Under the Sentence of Death," inspired by a fellow inmate facing execution, caught the eye of the esteemed French writer Jean Cocteau. In 1948, Genet's poetry collection, Poèmes, was published, marking the beginning of his literary journey.

The Rise of a Literary Sensation

While still imprisoned, Genet embarked on writing a novel. Despite early setbacks, with initial drafts confiscated and destroyed, he persisted. His debut novel, Lady of Flowers, published in 1942, catapulted him into the literary spotlight. Over the years, Genet penned several more novels, such as The Miracle of the Rose (1946) and The Thief’s Journal (1948), many of which drew from his own life experiences and depicted society's darker corners.

Venturing into Playwriting

In the mid-1940s, Genet expanded his creative repertoire to include playwriting. His first theatrical works, Deathwatch and The Maids, explored themes of criminality. The Maids, inspired by a real-life case of sibling murderers, premiered in 1947 and garnered Genet considerable attention. Despite his literary achievements, Genet continued to engage in criminal activities.

A Narrow Escape and Theatrical Triumphs

Convicted of theft once more, Genet narrowly avoided a life sentence thanks to a petition signed by prominent French artists and writers. This reprieve coincided with the creation of his most acclaimed plays, The Balcony (1956) and The Blacks (1957), which achieved success on both European and American stages. His ambitious play, The Screens, written in 1960, was a five-hour epic requiring a large cast and was not performed in France until the late 1960s.

Later Years and Enduring Legacy

In his later years, Genet turned his attention to nonfiction, though he ceased producing new work in his final decade. Jean Genet passed away from throat cancer on April 15, 1986. Remembered as a vibrant force in 20th-century French literature, his life and works continue to inspire and provoke readers worldwide, solidifying his place as a masterful storyteller who gave voice to the marginalized and the maligned.