Pierre Nora is a French historian elected to the Académie Française on 7 June 2001. He is known for his work on French identity and memory. His name is associated with the study of new history. He is the brother of the late Simon Nora, a former senior French administrative professional. He is the uncle of Olivier Nora, the president and publisher of the French publishing house Editions Grasset.
Pierre Nora in June 2011
The Académie Française, also known as the French Academy, is the principal French council for matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution, it was restored as a division of the Institut de France in 1803 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the oldest of the five académies of the institute. The body has the duty of acting as an official authority on the language; it is tasked with publishing an official dictionary of the language.
Institut de France building
Cardinal Richelieu, responsible for the establishment of the Académie
Raymond Poincaré was one of the five French heads of state who became members of the Académie Française. He is depicted wearing the habit vert, or green habit, of the Académie.
Bernard Dujon and his colleague Eric Westhof, wearing the "Habit vert" of the Institut de France
