Famous French Biographers

French and American writer, journalist, and pianist Ève Curie was one of the daughters of scientists Marie Curie and Pierre Curie. She was the only one in the Curie family who did not choose a career in science. She authored her mother’s biography and was actively involved with UNICEF, helping women and children in developing countries.

Henri Charrière, convicted by French courts as a murderer in 1931 and pardoned in 1970, gained-attention after releasing his autobiographical novel Papillon. The book that gives details of his incarceration in the French penal colony of French Guiana and subsequent escape from there became a bestseller and garnered critical-acclaim. Its sequel Banco documents his life in Venezuela following the escape. 

Renowned French author Dominique Lapierre is best known for his bestselling work City of Joy, which depicted life in the slums of Calcutta. His other bestseller Is Paris Burning?, like City of Joy, was also a collaborative effort with Larry Collins. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government of India.

Maurice-Georges Paléologue was a French diplomat and historian. He was also an essayist of great caliber. He played a pivotal role in the French entry into the First World War. At that time, he was the French ambassador to Russia and was in support of the Russian mobilization against Germany. He was also a published author of novels and essays. 

French symbolist author Marcel Schwob is best known for his works such as The King In The Gold Mask and Imaginary Lives. His writings exhibit a strong influence of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe. He was also a qualified journalist and had traveled to places such as Asia and Australia.

French chronicler Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme began his life as a soldier, traveling across Europe, meeting personalities like Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, fighting in important wars, later writing about them in capricious style. Although not a reliable source of history, his posthumously-published Mémoires de Messire Pierre de Bourdeilles provide a picture of the contemporary court-life.

Emmanuel Roblès was an Algerian-French author and playwright. Many of his works were based on the war and political strife that he witnessed in North Africa and Europe. He served in the French Air Force and also worked as a correspondent and translator. In 1973, he was elected a member of the Académie Goncourt.