Background
Dietrich was born in Dijon. His father died when he was very young, and his mother was ill and addicted to drugs. Shortly after Dietrich"s release from one at the age of 18, his mother died.
Dietrich was born in Dijon. His father died when he was very young, and his mother was ill and addicted to drugs. Shortly after Dietrich"s release from one at the age of 18, his mother died.
In 1932 Dietrich met philosopher and poet Lanza del Vasto at the Parc Monceau in Paris. The first thing del Vasto said to Dietrich was "Are you as good as this bread?" The two became inseparable friends for the rest of Dietrich"s short life. Lanza helped and mentored Dietrich in writing, although he always refused to be credited as a co-author
After becoming lightly wounded during a bombardment in 1944, Dietrich developed hemiplegia and then gangrene, and died the same year.
He is best known today for his semi-autobiographical novel, Le Bonheur des tristes ("The Happiness of Sad People").
