[1][2][3] The magazine was founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger.

[6] Established writers such as Paul Bourget and Anatole France contributed to the magazine from its early days.

The magazine's influence grew until, during the interwar period, it became the leading literary journal, occupying a unique role in French culture.

During the occupation in the second world war the NRF continued operations under the Vichy Regime, thanks to the work of Otto Abetz in negotiating terms with Gaston Gallimard.

[7] Gide and Général de Gaulle gave explicit blessing to L'Arche, a literary review created by Jean Amrouche and edited by Edmond Charlot.