In the autumn of 2025 I read André Gide's memoir, 'If It Die' (Si le grain ne meurt). The title, which may seem strange to some, comes from a Bible text:

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

I cannot recall at present whether the verse is referred to, directly or obliquely, in the text itself. It's clear that there is something of the 'death-and-rebirth' within the text, particularly Gide's relationship to his personal bodily excess.

The point here is to bring a list of some of the key real-life locations which are present in this memoir, and for the purposes of brevity I keep it only to the first part of the book (thus excluding the travels in North Africa).

Paris -- Gide was born in the Rue de Médecis, (sixième arrondissement). The Jardin du Luxembourg plays a big part in his childhood. He will return numerous times throughout the text. Later moves to the Rue de Commaille, septième arrondissement.

La Roque-Baignard -- the department of Calvados, Normandy, northwestern France. The link is on Gide's mother's die, Juliette Rondeaux.

Rouen the large city and capital of Normandy, and the link is to the mother.

Uzès a commune in Southern France, where his father from a poorer background is linked to. Nîmes itself is also an important location.

O little town of Uzès! if you were in Umbria, how the tourists would flock from Paris to visit you!

Cuverville -- Gide's uncle's place. This is where the opening to La porte étroite also takes place, with the 'dark walk'.

Hyères -- a holiday location where they spend the winter. Costebelle is a subdivision of the town.

Lérins -- visited, while also visiting Cannes, and marvels at the rock-pools.

Trip to Brittany -- we know at least that Gide visited the following locations: Le Pouldu, Quiberon, Quimper.

Pierrefonds -- took temporary lodgings here.

Annecy and Menthon -- important location where 'Cahiers of Andre Walter' was written.

Lotzwil is where the Gide's parents' Swiss maid, Marie, eventually went to live.

For more information consult the book André Gide, A Life in the Present by Alan Sheridan.