Jean Giraudoux

Born in Bellac, France, in 1882, Jean Giraudoux studied at the Lycée Lakanal before traveling through Europe and joining the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1910. He served with distinction during World War I and became the first writer to receive the wartime Legion of Honour.

Giraudoux published successful novels including Siegfried et le Limousin and Églantine, but his international reputation rests chiefly on his plays. His creative partnership with actor and director Louis Jouvet helped bring works such as Intermezzo, The Trojan War Will Not Take Place, and Ondine to the stage. He also held important government posts, including Minister of Information, before his death in Paris in 1944.