Andre Davesne

Andre Prosper Davesne born with Castle-Chinon (Nievre), on January 1st 1898 - deceased with Périgueux (the Dordogne), on August 6th 1978 was a French writer and teacher.

It was born on the Notre-Dame Place with Castle-Chinon. His/her father, Paul Ernest, were director of the Higher Elementary school and his grandfather vine grower. Prisoner twice during the First World War and twice escaped. It is the subject of its book " The war of papa" (Editions Fanlac, Périgueux, 1964). It begins its career of teacher in Black Africa, where it will remain until 1939 (amongst other things with Bamako with the Mali and with Brazzaville with the Congo and which will inspire " to him; Sketch of brousse" (Editions of Sagittarius, 1943). It there côtoie of other teacher-writers like Georges Hardy, Oswald Durand and celebrates it and discussed André Demaison (1883-1956). In 1935, it returns visit to Albert Schweitzer, in his hospital of Lambaréné, with the Gabon.

It is one of the pioneers of the methods of Célestin Freinet, celebrates it pedagog. He writes the first handbooks of reading for the African pupils. Some of these books were still of use, there is little, in African schools. A school complex of Bamako bears its name. it also was in station, with the Senegal (town of Thiès)

On its return in France in 1939, it takes an active share in Resistance. It is named Inspecteur of Primary school education with Sarlat then, in 1945 becomes Inspecteur of Academy of the Dordogne until its retirement in 1963.

Officer of the Legion of Honor, Military decoration Military Cross of the Escaped prisoners and Commander of the Academic Palms.

In France, the Bookstore of Strasbourg Istra publishes into 1932 famous the " Tales of the Bush and Forêt" , written in collaboration with Joseph Gouin and illustrated initially by Charles Schott then by P.Lagosse. They were translated into English under the title: " Bruise the Bush" off;. On 35 tales, half comes Black Africa (History of Mosikasika, the small chick; Beautiful story of Samba; The Farmer and Guinnarou etc), the remainder being French, North-African or Asian tales. In 1946, appears, always at Istra, the beautiful tale " Massed Kokari, hare of Afrique".

Works

  • Mamadou and Bineta learns how to read and write
  • Nouveau spelling-book of Mamadou and Bineta
  • the first readings of Mamadou and Bineta
  • Mamadou and Bineta became large

Other titles:

  • to read and well say Well (with Bjornson-Langen) - ED. Lavauzelle
  • We are five years old (with Mrs. Meymi) - ED. Larousse (1965)
  • Manual of agriculture - ED. Istra (1958)
  • French language - ED. Istra (1962)
  • the Family Diavara - ED. Istra (1959)
  • Alive Readings (with J.Gouin) - ED. Istra (1951)
  • the war of dad - ED. Fanlac
  • Tales of the Bush and the Forest illustrated by Paulette LAGOSSE (1921-1996) - ED. Istra

  • It should be noted that part of the school handbooks were republished by EDICEF (Hachette Livre group).

Extracts

  • Mamadou and Bineta became large
the village of my family is located in the forest, in the middle of the gardens of yams and groundnuts. By a broad track, one arrives before a court bordered of boxes of bark. All the boxes have their roof in sheets with the same height. Behind the houses, the green heads of the banana trees rise. The tree which dominates the village populates poisseux vultures. A blue smoke grinds in the lanes, wraps the boxes of a moving scarf. Skinny dogs pass furtively. The sheep and the kids gather close to the cattle sheds. The poultry disputes at the entry of tiny hen houses.

  • the war of dad

the uniform required more care. It was distributed to measure, which meant that the storekeeper asked the candidate-soldier:
- Which is your size? And, according to the size, it made pretense seek.
- He, the gowky man, how much? The gowky man, it was me…
- 1 m 83
- 1 m 83! There is not idea to be cumbersome at this point! I do not have anything for the large poles! Such an amount of worse! You will manage with that!
We passed then to the shoes… The poor godillots, twisted, folded, ressemelés, studded enormous cabochons, recousus at long irregular points, rapetassés with enormous parts, of which some were risen like the blinkers of the harnessing of a small dunkey…
  • Tales of the Bush and the Forest
And here is the history of Mosikasika such as one in the evening says it in Africa near a good fire, per hour when the lions drive out with far in the bush.

  • Source :

Maurice Pellissier

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