Maurice Druon
1918 – 2009
Maurice Druon (born April 23, 1918) was a renowned novelist of French origin and a key member of the Academie Francaise where he served in the capacity of Perpetual Secretary between 1985 & 1999. Born in Paris, Druon was actually the nephew of Joseph Kessel, the famous writer, with whom he wrote Chant des Partisans. The music was composed by Anna Marley and it was used primarily as an anthem by the famous French Resistance at the time of World War. Meanwhile in 1948 he was conferred the coveted Prix Goncourt for Les Grandes Familles. Maurice Druon is famous for the series of 7 historical novels that was published and became popular during the 1950s under the famous title – Les Rois Maudits. He was also the Minister of Cultural Affairs in 1973 & 1974 in the cabinet of Pierre Messmer and was a deputy of Paris from 1978 to 1981.