Google trend - Romain Gary

Romain Gary - 10 things to know with detail

• Romain Gary was a French writer, diplomat, and film director, born on May 21, 1914 in Vilnius, Lithuania, which was then part of the Russian Empire.
• He was known for his prolific literary career, having written over 30 novels, memoirs, and essays during his lifetime.
• Gary initially pursued a career in the French Air Force, serving as a pilot during World War II. He later joined the Free French Forces and fought with the Allies in North Africa and Italy.
• He is best known for his novel "The Roots of Heaven" (Les Racines du Ciel), which won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 1956. The novel explores themes of conservation, environmentalism, and human rights.
• Gary was the only author to win the Prix Goncourt twice, under two different pen names. He won the award in 1956 as Romain Gary and again in 1975 as Emile Ajar.
• In 1975, Gary revealed that he had been writing under the pseudonym Emile Ajar for several years, even going as far as creating a fictional backstory for the author. This revelation caused a scandal in the literary world.
• Gary's works often explore themes of identity, exile, and the complexities of human relationships. He drew on his own experiences as a Jewish immigrant and war veteran in his writing.
• In addition to his literary career, Gary also served as a French diplomat, holding diplomatic posts in Bulgaria, Switzerland, and the United States.
• Gary's writing has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be studied and admired by readers and scholars around the world.
• Romain Gary passed away on December 2, 1980 in Paris, France. Despite the controversies surrounding his work and personal life, he is remembered as a brilliant and influential figure in 20th-century French literature.