Rosny, J.-H. Pseudonym of the brothers Joseph Henri Boex (called J.-H. Rosny aîné) (1856-1940) and Séraphin Justin Boex (called J.-H. Rosny jeune) (1859-1948). The brothers began writing as confirmed Naturalists, and even after their break with Zola in 1887 (‘Manifeste des Cinq’), social issues informed many of their novels (Nell Horn de l'armée du Salut, 1886; Le Bilatéral, 1887; Le Termite, 1890; La Fauve, 1899). When their collaboration ended in 1908, Rosny jeune's work maintained this social pre-occupation. But Rosny aîné, the more significant writer, had already established his originality in two often overlapping genres: science fiction (Les Xipéhuz, 1887; Le Cataclysme, 1896; La Force mystérieuse, 1914) and the prehistoric novel (Vamireh, 1892; Eyrimah, 1895; La Guerre du feu, 1911). The brothers were founding members of the Académie Goncourt, from 1896.
[Clive Scott]
