# Romain Gary

> French writer and diplomat (1914–1980)

**Wikidata**: [Q157322](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157322)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romain_Gary)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/romain-gary

## Summary
Romain Gary was a French writer, diplomat, and film director (1914–1980) who won the prestigious Prix Goncourt and served as a diplomat while also producing significant literary works including "The Roots of Heaven" and "The Life Before Us" under the pseudonym Émile Ajar.

## Biography
- Born: 1914-05-08 (multiple sources: 1914-01-01, 1914-05-21)
- Nationality: France (citizenship: Q142, also held citizenship in Q34266 and Q207272)
- Education: Paris Law Faculty, Paul Cézanne University, and the School of the Air and Space
- Known for: Literary works including "The Roots of Heaven" and "The Life Before Us" (under pseudonym Émile Ajar), and diplomatic service
- Employer(s): French Air Force academy (School of the Air and Space), Paris Law Faculty, Paul Cézanne University
- Field(s): Writing, diplomacy, film direction, screenwriting, translation, and aircraft piloting

## Contributions
Romain Gary authored several notable literary works:
- "The Roots of Heaven" (1956 novel)
- "Promise at Dawn"
- "White Dog" (novel)
- "The Life Before Us" (published under pseudonym Émile Ajar)

He received the Prix Goncourt, one of France's most prestigious literary awards. His works have been recognized through various publications and identifiers including ISBNs: 11863917X, 1066382794, and others.

## FAQs
**What were Romain Gary's most famous works?**
His most notable works include "The Roots of Heaven" (1956), "The Life Before Us" (published under the pseudonym Émile Ajar), and "White Dog".

**What awards did Romain Gary receive?**
He received the Commander of the Legion of Honour, the Prix Goncourt, and several military decorations including the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and the Resistance Medal.

**What was Romain Gary's occupation?**
Romain Gary was a writer, diplomat, film director, screenwriter, translator, and aircraft pilot.

**Where did Romain Gary work?**
He was affiliated with the French Air Force academy (School of the Air and Space), Paris Law Faculty, and Paul Cézanne University.

## Why They Matter
Romain Gary's literary contributions, particularly "The Roots of Heaven" and "The Life Before Us," have had lasting impact on French literature. His dual career as both a writer and diplomat demonstrated the intersection of literature and public service. The pseudonym Émile Ajar created for "The Life Before Us" became a significant literary achievement, demonstrating his versatility as an author.

## Notable For
- Won the Prix Goncourt for his novel "The Life Before Us" (published under the pseudonym Émile Ajar)
- Received Commander of the Legion of Honour, the highest civilian honor in France
- Served as both a writer and diplomat, demonstrating dual expertise in literature and international relations
- Authored "The Roots of Heaven" (1956), which won the French Academy's Grand Prix du Roman
- Created the pseudonym Émile Ajar for his novel "The Life Before Us"
- Received multiple military decorations including the Croix de guerre and Resistance Medal

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Romain Gary was born in 1914 (with multiple recorded dates including May 8, May 21, and January 1 of that year). He received his education at several institutions including the Paris Law Faculty, Paul Cézanne University, and the School of the Air and Space (French Air Force academy near Salon-de-Provence).

### Career as Writer and Diplomat
Gary's career spanned multiple fields including writing, diplomacy, film direction, and translation. He authored numerous novels and works, with his most famous being "The Roots of Heaven" (1956), which won the French Academy's Grand Prix du Roman. He also wrote "Promise at Dawn," "White Dog," and most notably "The Life Before Us," which was published under the pseudonym Émile Ajar.

### Literary Achievements
His literary works were widely recognized and published under multiple identifiers including ISBNs: 11863917X, 1066382794, and others. The pseudonym Émile Ajar created for "The Life Before Us" became a significant literary achievement, demonstrating his versatility as an author.

### Military and Diplomatic Service
Gary served in military and diplomatic capacities, earning multiple decorations including the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and the Resistance Medal. He also received the Colonial Medal and the Order of Liberation, recognizing his service during World War II.

### Awards and Recognition
The most prestigious recognition came from the Prix Goncourt, France's most important literary award. He was also honored with the Commander of the Legion of Honour, the highest civilian honor in France. His works were published under various identifiers including Library of Congress and Bibliothèque nationale de France IDs.

### Later Career and Legacy
Gary continued his work as both a writer and diplomat throughout his career. His contributions to literature and international relations have had lasting impact on French cultural heritage. The pseudonym Émile Ajar created for "The Life Before Us" remains one of his most significant literary achievements, demonstrating his ability to create compelling narratives under different identities.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [The Rise and Fall of Pseudonyms. 2011](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/books/review/essay-the-rise-and-fall-of-pseudonyms.html)
3. BnF authorities
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5. [Source](https://www.lepoint.fr/culture/immortel-romain-gary-04-12-2010-1271567_3.php)
6. The Fine Art Archive
7. [Source](https://www.academiegoncourt.com/tous-les-laureats-prix-goncourt)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
11. CiNii Research
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13. SNK authority file
14. IMDb
15. Internet Broadway Database
16. Proleksis Encyclopedia
17. [Source](https://librarycatalog.usj.edu.lb/cgi-bin/koha/opac-authoritiesdetail.pl?authid=366315)
18. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
19. SNAC
20. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
21. NooSFere
22. filmportal.de
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29. Babelio
30. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
31. Czech National Authority Database
32. [Das Leben als Akt der Verzweiflung. 2011](https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/das-leben-als-akt-der-verzweiflung-100.html)
33. Norwegian Authority File: Persons and Corporate Bodies
34. [Source](https://lccn.loc.gov/n50016999)
35. Goodreads
36. The Movie Database
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38. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute