René Vallery-Radot

Born in Paris on October 1, 1853, René Vallery-Radot was a French writer remembered above all for La Vie de Pasteur (The Life of Pasteur). He was Louis Pasteur’s son-in-law, a connection that helped him write about the scientist with unusual closeness while still shaping a full-scale literary biography.

His book on Pasteur became the work most strongly associated with his name and was widely translated and republished, helping introduce Pasteur’s life and achievements to readers far beyond France. For audiobook listeners, Vallery-Radot stands out as a writer who could turn scientific work and public history into a clear, human story.

He died in Paris on January 24, 1933. Though not as famous as the subject he wrote about, his biography helped preserve the image of Pasteur for later generations and remains the reason his work is still read today.