"[6] With political tensions rising in Europe, Bernanos emigrated to South America with his family in 1938, settling in Brazil.

His three sons returned to France to fight after World War II broke out, while he fulminated at his country's 'spiritual exhaustion,' which he saw as the root of its collapse in 1940.

From exile, he mocked the 'ridiculous' Vichy regime and became a strong supporter of the Free French led by Charles De Gaulle.

After France's Liberation, De Gaulle invited Bernanos to return to his homeland, offering him a post in the government.

Bernanos did return but, disappointed to perceive no signs of spiritual renewal, he declined to play an active role in French political life.