Romain
Gary
1914-1980
Romain Gary, born Roman Katsev, is a renowned French writer, filmmaker, diplomat, and military officer whose life and work are filled with contradictions and deceptions. He is the only author to have won the prestigious Goncourt Prize twice, first in 1956 for his novel “Les racines du ciel” (The Roots of Heaven), and then in 1975 for “La vie devant soi” (A Lifetime Ahead), published under the pen name Emil Azhar. Gary was born in Vilna, now Vilnius, Lithuania, to an actress mother, Mina Ovchinskaya, who saw greatness in him. Her faith in his potential inspired him throughout his life. After living in Russia as a child, Gary moved with his mother to Poland and then France, where he received his education at Nice and Paris. He studied law and served in the Free French Air Force during World War II, participating in battles in Africa and Europe and receiving the Legion of Honour for his service. After the war, Gary entered the diplomatic service and held important positions in Bulgaria, the United States, and the United Nations. Despite his successful diplomatic career, he did not give up on literature. His first novel, “European Upbringing” (1945), received recognition, and “Promise at Dawn” (1960), a memoir about his life and mother, became one of his most notable works. Gary was also a master of literary deception. Under the pen name Emil Azhar, he published books that, according to his plan, would be judged separately from his other works. Emil Azhar gained such popularity that even his closest friends were unaware of his dual identity. It was not until his posthumously published book “The Life and Death of Emil Azhar” that the truth was revealed. Gary left a legacy that continues to captivate readers and inspire scholars. In Moscow, a plaque has been installed in his honour on the street where he grew up. This is a short but significant reminder of a man who, despite his varied and difficult life, left a lasting impression on world literature.
Address: Moscow, Klimentovsky lane, 6
