Montherlant

The French author Henry de Montherlant said that “happiness writes in white ink on a white page.”

The poet Edward Hirsch, in response to Montherlant’s edict, once wrote: “I don’t believe that only sorrow/and misery can be written.”

And there prevailed a certain vision of French history, in the easy invocation of former members of the academy, celebrated French writers with dubious wartime collaborationist pasts like Henry de Montherlant, cited by Mr. Grainville as a mentor.

“Happiness writes white,” said Henry de Montherlant, and, for me, likewise hope, genuine grief, positive intention, happy results.

Along the way, Nelly turned to acting, appearing with the company of the famed actors Madeleine Renaud and Jean-Louis Barrault in Henry de Montherlant’s play “Malatesta.”