Under what pseudonym does Romain Gary publish the novel The Life Before Us?
Last Updated:
The Life Before Us, published in 1975, is one of the masterpieces of 20th-century French literature. But what makes this book even more fascinating is the mystery surrounding its author. Romain Gary, the famous French writer, diplomat and filmmaker, chose to publish the novel under a pseudonym, Émile Ajar. This choice enabled Romain Gary to win for the second time the Prix Goncourt, a prestigious award in French literature, even though the rules stipulate that a writer can only win it once.
Romain Gary, whose real name was Roman Kacew, was born in Vilnius (then part of the Russian Empire, now in Lithuania) in 1914. He spent a large part of his childhood in France, and soon became involved in diplomacy. Parallel to his duties, he distinguished himself as a writer, producing memorable novels, essays and stories. He won his first Prix Goncourt in 1956 for Les Racines du ciel, a novel about the struggle to protect elephants in Africa, already demonstrating his talent for tackling complex and profound themes.
But despite his literary success, Romain Gary felt he was being judged by critics from a certain angle, due to his celebrity and established style. So he decided to adopt a pseudonym to experiment with a new way of writing and escape this critical gaze. This is how he created the character of Émile Ajar.
In creating Émile Ajar, Romain Gary didn’t just take on a pseudonym, he created a genuine literary identity. Under this name, he adopted a style radically different from that of his previous works. The Life Before Us, for example, is written in a more direct, childlike style, which surprised critics and audiences alike.
The central character of The Life Before Us is Momo, an Arab boy raised by Madame Rosa, an elderly Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust and takes care of the children of prostitutes. Through Momo’s eyes, the author tackles subjects such as poverty, exclusion, old age and love. The tone is both moving and humorous, a combination that has won the hearts of readers and critics alike.
On publication, the novel was immediately acclaimed, winning the Prix Goncourt in 1975. Remarkably, no one knew at the time that Romain Gary and Émile Ajar were the same person. The deception was so well orchestrated that Romain Gary went so far as to appoint a distant relative, Paul Pavlowitch, to play the role of Émile Ajar in public and answer interviews.
The mystery surrounding Émile Ajar’s identity lasted for many years. It was only in 1981, after Romain Gary’s death, that the truth was revealed to the general public. In a posthumous letter entitled Vie et mort d’Émile Ajar, published after his death, Romain Gary confessed that he was indeed the author of the books written under this pseudonym. He also explains his reasons for adopting this double identity, notably his desire to regain a certain creative freedom and escape public expectations.
This posthumous coup de théâtre made Romain Gary one of the most intriguing writers in French literature. Thanks to this revelation, he is now the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt twice, despite the fact that this is against the rules of the prize.
Even today, The Life Before Us remains one of the most widely read and studied novels in France and abroad. In addition to its author’s story, the novel touches on universal themes such as love, tolerance and human dignity. The character of Momo, with his touching naivety and his view of the world, has marked several generations of readers.
Finally, by choosing the pseudonym Émile Ajar, Romain Gary not only fooled literary critics, he also succeeded in reinventing his work and demonstrating that literary art knows no boundaries when driven by true creativity.
literature
Under what pseudonym does Romain Gary publish the novel The Life Before Us?
Answer
Romain Gary publishes The Life Before Us under the pseudonym Émile Ajar, which earns him a second Prix Goncourt in 1975.