Rougemont, Denis de (1906-85). Writer and cultural historian. Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, he dabbled in Surrealism and occultism before rediscovering Protestant spirituality through Karl Barth. Moving to Paris, he participated in founding the Personalist reviews Esprit and Ordre nouveau, and wrote extensively on contemporary themes of personal dignity and political commitment. His exploration of modern concepts of love, L'Amour et l'occident (1938), remains a classic, examining historical, psychological, and ethical issues. After the fall of Paris he expressed his hostility to the Nazi regime and left Switzerland for the USA where he gave lectures in support of the French Resistance. Returning in 1947, de Rougemont founded the Centre for European Culture in Geneva, and campaigned energetically for European federalism, on which he wrote several influential essays.
[Michael Kelly]
