About
Robert Merle (1908-2004) was a French writer born in Tébessa, Algeria. An agrégé in English, he taught literature at several French universities and translated Swift, Caldwell, and Che Guevara. He achieved immediate success with his first novel, Week-end à Zuydcoote (1949), inspired by his experience at the Battle of Dunkirk, which won the Prix Goncourt. His work explores varied themes: war, the human condition, science fiction, and history. He is notably the author of La mort est mon métier (1952), L'Île (1962), Un animal doué de raison (1967), Malevil (1972), and the historical saga Fortune de France (1977-2003), in thirteen volumes.
* 1908-08-28 — † 2004-03-27
Major works
- Week-end à Zuydcoote (1949)novel
- La mort est mon métier (1952)novel
- L'Île (1962)novel
- Un animal doué de raison (1967)novel
- Malevil (1972)novel
Key milestones
- 1949Awarded the Prix Goncourt for Week-end à Zuydcoote.
- 1974Received the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Malevil.
- 1977Begins publication of the historical saga Fortune de France.
Themes
WarHuman conditionScience fictionHistoryPower and totalitarianism
Sources: oxfordreference.com · nytimes.com