Céline

Examines the life and writings of Louis-Ferdinand Céline. Pp. 149-174 discuss his antisemitic pamphlets "Bagatelles pour un massacre", "L'école des cadavres", and "Les beaux draps" and possible explanations for them, such as the influence of his childhood and his antisemitic father, his personal hatred of Jews, and the general antisemitic atmosphere. Céline was convinced of the truth of the popular axiom Jews=freemasonry=communists, and that Léon Blum and other Jews were pushing France into war with Hitler. His espousal of pacifism at all costs led him to support alliance with Nazi Germany. States that his adoption of racist theories can be explained by his hygienic medical ideals.