| 1910 |
December 19 |
Jean Genet is born in Paris. |
| 1911 |
July 28 |
His mother abandons him, leaving him a ward of the state. |
| 1922 |
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His foster mother dies and he begins committing petty crimes, primarily theft. |
| 1925 |
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He is placed in the Mettray reformatory for boys. |
| 1929 |
March 1 |
In order to escape the reformatory, Genet joins the French Foreign Legion. |
| 1933 |
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He travels across Europe, living as a beggar, thief, and prostitute. |
| 1934 |
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He signs up for another tour of duty in the army. |
| 1936 |
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He deserts the army. |
| 1937 |
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He returns to Paris and spends time in and out of prison for a variety of crimes, primarily theft. |
| 1938 |
January |
He is tried as a deserter and placed in a military prison. He will spend the next several years in and out of prison on a variety of charges, primarily theft. During these periods of imprisonment, Genet begins to write. |
| 1944 |
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His first novel, Our Lady of the Flowers, is published. |
| 1946 |
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The MIracle of the Rose, a semi-autobiographical novel, is published. |
| 1947 |
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Another novel, Querelle de Brest, is published. |
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The Maids is produced by Louis Jouvet in Paris. |
| 1948 |
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Genet is convicted of burglary and, because he is a repeat offender, is sentenced to life imprisonment. Several prominent writers, including Sartre, Gide, and Cocteau petition for his release, arguing that Genet's literary career is far too important to let him waste away in prison. Their request is eventually granted and his sentence is reduced to three months. |
| 1949 |
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Genet's autobiography, A Thief's Journal, is published. |
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Deathwatch is produced under the direction of Genet and Marchat. |
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Another novel, Funeral Rites, is published. |
| 1950 |
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Genet directs Un Chant d'Amour, a 26 minute black and white film depicting the fantasies of a gay male prisoner and his prison warden. |
| 1951 |
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His work is banned in the United States. |
| 1956 |
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The Balcony is published. |
| 1957 |
April 22 |
The Balcony premieres at the Arts Theatre Club in London. Genet is unhappy with the production because he finds it too tasteful and realistic. |
| 1959 |
October 28 |
The Blacks premieres at the Théatre de Lutèce in Paris. |
| 1960 |
March 3 |
The Balcony is produced at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York City. It enjoys a run of 672 performances and wins an Obie Award. |
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May |
The Balcony makes its French premiere at the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris under the direction of Peter Brook. |
| 1961 |
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Genet writes The Screens, but it is considered too subversive to be produced. |
| 1966 |
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The Screens is produced at the Théâtre de l'Odéon. |
| 1970 |
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The Black Panthers invite Genet to the United States. He accepts their invitation and gives several lectures during a three-month stay. He attends the trial of their leader, Huey Newton. |
| 1986 |
April 15 |
Jean Genet dies in Paris at the age of 75. |
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His final novel, The Prisoner of Love, is published. |
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Browse Jean Genet Quotes |
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Browse Jean Genet: Essential Reading List |
