Jump to content

Pierre Nord: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Légion d'honneur
m Sort Template:Expand language by topic
 
(45 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Pierre Nord''', real name '''André Léon Brouillard''' ([[15 April]], [[1900]] - [[13 December]], [[1985]]), was a French writer, [[spy]] and resistance member.
{{Expand French|topic=bio|date=December 2023}}{{Short description|French writer, spy and resistance member}}
'''Pierre Nord''', real name '''André Léon Brouillard''' (15 April 1900 – 10 December 1985), was a French writer, [[spy]], and resistance member.


==Early life==
Brouillard was born in [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis]]. He participated in the [[First World War]] as a resistance fighter and in 1916 was arrested by the Germans at [[Saint-Quentin, Aisne|Saint-Quentin]], condemned to death and later pardoned.
Brouillard was born in [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis]], [[Nord (French department)|Nord]]. He participated in the [[First World War]] as a resistance fighter and in 1916 was arrested by the Germans at [[Saint-Quentin, Aisne]], condemned to death, and later pardoned.


He was educated at [[Saint-Cyr]] (1920-1922), Superior War School (1932-1934) and Free School of Political Science. As armoured troops' officer, he took part in the campaign against [[Republic of the Rif|Rif]] rebels in [[Morocco]] and there earned the distinction of [[knight]] of the [[Légion d'honneur]].
He was educated at [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr|Saint-Cyr]] (1920-1922), [[Ecole de Guerre]] (Superior War School) (1932-1934), and [[Ecole libre des sciences politiques]] (Free School of Political Science). As an armoured troops' officer, he took part in the campaign against [[Rif Republic|Rif]] rebels in [[Morocco]] and there earned the distinction of [[knight]] of the [[Légion d'honneur]].


In 1939, Brouillard was appointed chief of intelligence of 9th and 10th Armies. During German invasion of 1940, he was again captured, escaped and became commander of one of the most active units of French resistance. He saw the end of the [[Second World War]] as a [[colonel]] and was awarded numerous military decorations.
In 1939, Brouillard was appointed chief of intelligence of the 9th and 10th Armies. During the German invasion of 1940, he was again captured, escaped and became commander of one of the most active units of the French resistance. He ended the [[Second World War]] as a [[colonel]] and was awarded numerous military decorations.


In 1936, Brouillard published his first espionage novel, ''Double crime sur la ligne Maginot'' (Double Crime on the [[Maginot Line]]), under the pseudonym of Pierre Nord. The tense and complicated plot revolved around the hunt for a murderous German spy who operated in one of the forts of the [[Maginot Line]]. The spy, masquerading as a [[lieutenant]] of French army, was neutralized by ingenious trap set by Deuxième Bureau' operative Captain Pierre Ardant. (Curiously, chief protagonists of Nord's novels almost invariably bear first name of Pierre). The ''Double crime'' was followed by ''Terre d'angoisse'' (Land of Anguish, 1937), which described the struggle between the German and French secret services during the First World War. The hero of the story, Gabriel Gabrio, under the alias of Lieutenant Heim penetrated [[Kaizer]]'s army.
Brouillard published his first espionage novel, ''Double crime sur la ligne Maginot'' (Double Crime on the [[Maginot Line]]) in 1936, under the pseudonym of Pierre Nord.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Porch |first=Douglas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOBeKDcb9PcC |title=The French Secret Services: A History of French Intelligence from the Drefus Affair to the Gulf War |date=November 2003 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-374-52945-1 |pages=131 |language=en}}</ref> The tense and complicated plot revolved around the hunt for a murderous German spy who operated in one of the forts in the [[Maginot Line]]. The spy, masquerading as a [[lieutenant]] in the French army, was neutralized by an ingenious trap set by the Deuxième Bureau' operative Captain Pierre Ardant. (Curiously, the chief protagonists of Nord's novels almost invariably bear the first name of Pierre). The ''Double crime'' was followed by ''Terre d'angoisse'' (Land of Anguish) 1937, which described the struggle between the German and French secret services during the First World War. The hero of the story, under the alias of Lieutenant Heim (portrayed by actor [[Gabriel Gabrio]] in the 1939 film adaptation) penetrated the [[Kaiser]]'s army.


==Post-war==
In 1946, Brouillard left military service to take up writing full-time. As Pierre Nord, he became a prolific and popular author of spy fiction. His novels are characterized by realistic and intricate plots skillfully woven into both [[Cold War]] and Second World War settings. Many feature Colonel Dubois, the astute, veteran chief of French counter-espionage.
In 1946, Brouillard left military service to take up writing full-time. As Pierre Nord, he became a prolific and popular author of [[spy fiction]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Horn |first=Pierre L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ek7EEAAAQBAJ |title=Handbook of French Popular Culture |date=1991-05-21 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-0-313-36882-0 |pages=46–47 |language=en}}</ref> His novels are characterized by realistic and intricate plots skillfully woven into both [[Cold War]] and Second World War settings. Many feature Colonel Dubois, the astute, veteran chief of French counter-espionage.<ref name=":0" />
''Sixième colonne'' (Sixth Column, 1955) deals with the ostensive defection to the East of a French bacteriologist and the search for him carried out by his brother, a [[lieutenant colonel]] in the medical service, Pierre Rocher. The threat of [[biological warfare]] is again addressed in ''Espionnage à l'italienne'' (Espionage a la Italian, 1963), where a French discoverer of a deadly bacillus disappears in Italy and is sought for by the French, American and Russian intelligence services. In ''Pas de scandale a l'ONU'' (No Scandal at the UN, 1962), the son of a murdered French diplomat, trying to avenge the death of his father who worked for Colonel Dubois, stumbles upon a conspiracy against world peace orchestrated by some third world countries. In ''Le Kawass d'Ankara'' (The Kawass from Ankara, 1967), the Allied secret services in 1944 dispatch an agent, Pierre Frontin, to Turkey in a desperate effort to discredit vital information that fell into German hands. ''Le 13e suicidé'' (The Thirteenth Who Committed Suicide, 1971) features a high-ranking Russian defector who reveals that many leading figures in West German intelligence service are in fact Soviet agents. When several of them take their own lives, Colonel Dubois begins to question the Russian's revelations. This novel was adopted into a film ''Le Serpent'' (''[[Night Flight from Moscow]]'', 1973) starring [[Yul Brynner]], [[Henry Fonda]] and [[Dirk Bogarde]]. ''Le canal de las Americas'' (The Canal of the Americas, 1973) is a political intrigue set in a fictitious Latin American republic of Costaraguay. Altogether Nord authored nearly 80 novels.
''Sixième colonne'' (Sixth Column) 1955, deals with the ostensive defection to the East of a French bacteriologist and the search for him carried out by his brother, a [[lieutenant colonel]] in the medical service, Pierre Rocher. The threat of [[biological warfare]] is again addressed in ''Espionnage à l'italienne'' (Espionage a la Italian) 1963, where a French discoverer of a deadly bacillus disappears in Italy and is sought by the French, American and Russian intelligence services. In ''Pas de scandale a l'ONU'' (No Scandal at the UN) 1962, the son of a murdered French diplomat, trying to avenge the death of his father who worked for Colonel Dubois, stumbles upon a conspiracy against world peace orchestrated by some third world countries. In ''Le Kawass d'Ankara'' (The Kawass from Ankara) 1967, the Allied secret services in 1944 dispatched an agent, Pierre Frontin, to Turkey in a desperate effort to discredit vital information that fell into German hands. ''Le 13e suicidé'' (The Thirteenth Who Committed Suicide) 1971, features a high-ranking Russian defector who reveals that many leading figures in the West German intelligence service are in fact Soviet agents. When several of them take their own lives, Colonel Dubois begins to question the Russian's revelations. This novel was adapted into a film ''Le Serpent'' (''[[Night Flight from Moscow]]'') 1973 starring [[Yul Brynner]], [[Henry Fonda]] and [[Dirk Bogarde]]. ''Le canal de las Americas'' (The Canal of the Americas, 1973) is a political intrigue set in the fictitious Latin American republic of Costaraguay. Altogether Nord authored nearly eighty novels.


He also wrote non-fiction. Between 1946 and 1949, Nord published a three-volume account of [[Free French]] intelligence actions during Second World War under the title ''Mes Camarades sont morts'' (My Comrades are Dead) that won the Grand Prix Vérité. ''L'intoxication'' (The Deception), an analysis of the clandestine war of secret services, appeared in 1971.
He also wrote non-fiction. Between 1946 and 1949, Nord published a three-volume account of [[Free French Forces|Free French]] intelligence actions during the Second World War under the title ''Mes Camarades sont morts'' (My Comrades are Dead), it won the Grand Prix Vérité. ''L'intoxication'' (The Deception), an analysis of the clandestine war of secret services, appeared in 1971.


In 1957, Nord moved from France to the principality of [[Monaco]], where he lived until his death.
In 1957, Nord moved from France to the principality of [[Monaco]], where he lived until his death.

== Filmography ==
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|Double crime sur la ligne Maginot|fr}}'', directed by [[Félix Gandéra]] (1937, based on the novel ''Double crime sur la ligne Maginot'')
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|Deuxième Bureau contre Kommandantur|fr}}'', directed by [[René Jayet]] and [[Robert Bibal]] (1939, based on the novel ''Terre d'angoisse'')
*''[[Resistance (1945 film)|Resistance]]'', directed by [[André Berthomieu]] (1945, based on the novel ''Peloton d'exécution'')
*''[[Captain Ardant]]'', directed by [[André Zwoboda]] (1951, based on the novel ''Le Capitaine Ardant'')
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|La Vierge du Rhin|fr}}'', directed by [[Gilles Grangier]] (1953, based on the novel ''La Vierge du Rhin'')
*''[[The Amorous Corporal]]'', directed by [[Robert Darène]] (1958, based on the novel ''La Bigorne, caporal de France'')
*''[[Night Flight from Moscow]]'', directed by [[Henri Verneuil]] (1973, based on the novel ''Le Treizième Suicidé'')

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{imdb name|name=Pierre Nord|id=0634942}}
* {{IMDb name|name=Pierre Nord|id=0634942}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nord, Pierre}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nord, Pierre}}
⚫
[[Category:French novelists]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Le Cateau-Cambrésis]]
[[Category:French political writers]]
[[Category:French political writers]]
[[Category:French spies]]
[[Category:French spies]]
[[Category:French Resistance members]]
[[Category:French Resistance members]]
[[Category:Monegasque writers]]
[[Category:Monegasque writers]]
[[Category:Saint-Cyrians]]
[[Category:École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century French novelists]]

⚫
[[Category:French male novelists]]
[[fr:Pierre Nord]]
[[Category:20th-century French male writers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]

Latest revision as of 00:39, 30 May 2024

Pierre Nord, real name André Léon Brouillard (15 April 1900 – 10 December 1985), was a French writer, spy, and resistance member.

Early life

[edit]

Brouillard was born in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, Nord. He participated in the First World War as a resistance fighter and in 1916 was arrested by the Germans at Saint-Quentin, Aisne, condemned to death, and later pardoned.

He was educated at Saint-Cyr (1920-1922), Ecole de Guerre (Superior War School) (1932-1934), and Ecole libre des sciences politiques (Free School of Political Science). As an armoured troops' officer, he took part in the campaign against Rif rebels in Morocco and there earned the distinction of knight of the Légion d'honneur.

In 1939, Brouillard was appointed chief of intelligence of the 9th and 10th Armies. During the German invasion of 1940, he was again captured, escaped and became commander of one of the most active units of the French resistance. He ended the Second World War as a colonel and was awarded numerous military decorations.

Brouillard published his first espionage novel, Double crime sur la ligne Maginot (Double Crime on the Maginot Line) in 1936, under the pseudonym of Pierre Nord.[1] The tense and complicated plot revolved around the hunt for a murderous German spy who operated in one of the forts in the Maginot Line. The spy, masquerading as a lieutenant in the French army, was neutralized by an ingenious trap set by the Deuxième Bureau' operative Captain Pierre Ardant. (Curiously, the chief protagonists of Nord's novels almost invariably bear the first name of Pierre). The Double crime was followed by Terre d'angoisse (Land of Anguish) 1937, which described the struggle between the German and French secret services during the First World War. The hero of the story, under the alias of Lieutenant Heim (portrayed by actor Gabriel Gabrio in the 1939 film adaptation) penetrated the Kaiser's army.

Post-war

[edit]

In 1946, Brouillard left military service to take up writing full-time. As Pierre Nord, he became a prolific and popular author of spy fiction.[2] His novels are characterized by realistic and intricate plots skillfully woven into both Cold War and Second World War settings. Many feature Colonel Dubois, the astute, veteran chief of French counter-espionage.[2]

Sixième colonne (Sixth Column) 1955, deals with the ostensive defection to the East of a French bacteriologist and the search for him carried out by his brother, a lieutenant colonel in the medical service, Pierre Rocher. The threat of biological warfare is again addressed in Espionnage à l'italienne (Espionage a la Italian) 1963, where a French discoverer of a deadly bacillus disappears in Italy and is sought by the French, American and Russian intelligence services. In Pas de scandale a l'ONU (No Scandal at the UN) 1962, the son of a murdered French diplomat, trying to avenge the death of his father who worked for Colonel Dubois, stumbles upon a conspiracy against world peace orchestrated by some third world countries. In Le Kawass d'Ankara (The Kawass from Ankara) 1967, the Allied secret services in 1944 dispatched an agent, Pierre Frontin, to Turkey in a desperate effort to discredit vital information that fell into German hands. Le 13e suicidé (The Thirteenth Who Committed Suicide) 1971, features a high-ranking Russian defector who reveals that many leading figures in the West German intelligence service are in fact Soviet agents. When several of them take their own lives, Colonel Dubois begins to question the Russian's revelations. This novel was adapted into a film Le Serpent (Night Flight from Moscow) 1973 starring Yul Brynner, Henry Fonda and Dirk Bogarde. Le canal de las Americas (The Canal of the Americas, 1973) is a political intrigue set in the fictitious Latin American republic of Costaraguay. Altogether Nord authored nearly eighty novels.

He also wrote non-fiction. Between 1946 and 1949, Nord published a three-volume account of Free French intelligence actions during the Second World War under the title Mes Camarades sont morts (My Comrades are Dead), it won the Grand Prix Vérité. L'intoxication (The Deception), an analysis of the clandestine war of secret services, appeared in 1971.

In 1957, Nord moved from France to the principality of Monaco, where he lived until his death.

Filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Porch, Douglas (November 2003). The French Secret Services: A History of French Intelligence from the Drefus Affair to the Gulf War. Macmillan. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-374-52945-1.
  2. ^ a b Horn, Pierre L. (1991-05-21). Handbook of French Popular Culture. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-313-36882-0.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Pierre_Nord&oldid=1226338613"