Romain Gary

Romain Gary (1914–1980), born Roman Kacew in Vilna, was a French writer, diplomat, pilot and film director. He moved to France in 1928 and served in the French Air Force during the Second World War. From 1946, he worked in the diplomatic service and adopted the name Romain Gary. His best-known novels include The Roots of Heaven and The Life Before Us, which he published in 1975 under the pseudonym Émile Ajar. He received the Prix Goncourt for both works, making him the only author to win the prize twice. Gary was married to the actress Jean Seberg.