Romain Gary (born Roman Leibovich Kacew; 1914–1980) was a Lithuanian-born French novelist, diplomat, film director and military aviator. He is the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt twice, once under the pen name Émile Ajar. He is considered a major writer of French literature of the second half of the 20th century, known for a prolific output of more than 30 novels, essays and memoirs.
Early life and war
Born in Vilnius, Gary moved with his mother to Nice in France as a teenager and later became a naturalized French citizen. He joined the French Air Force in 1938 but was not commissioned as an officer, which he attributed to distrust of him as a foreigner and a Jew. During the Second World War he joined the Free French forces, flew bombing missions from England and was decorated for bravery, receiving among other honours the title of Compagnon de la Libération.
Literary career
Gary published his first novel, Éducation européenne, in 1945. He won the Prix Goncourt in 1956 for Les racines du ciel and again in 1975 under the pseudonym Émile Ajar for La vie devant soi. Ajar's identity was concealed for years, with Paul Pavlowitch appearing publicly as the author, until Gary revealed the truth in a posthumous book. Gary also wrote screenplays and directed a film in the early 1970s.
Diplomatic service and death
After the war Gary worked as a French diplomat in Bulgaria, Switzerland, New York, London and Los Angeles, where he served as Consul General. He was dismissed from the foreign ministry in 1961. He died by suicide in Paris on 2 December 1980, leaving a note in which he identified himself as Émile Ajar.
Honours and recognition
Gary's work is remembered for its range across novels, memoirs and film. His double Goncourt win remains unique in the prize's history, which only permits one award per author.
