Robert Merle was a bestselling literary fiction novelist, born in the southern city of Tebessa, Algeria. His birth in Algeria was a result of his father's job as an interpreter specializing in judicial affairs, who was an expert in both written and spoken Arabic. His father was stationed in Algeria at the time, and unfortunately, he lost his life while participating in the Dardanelles campaign in 1916. After his father's death, Merle's mother took him back to Paris.
In Paris, Merle attended the Sorbonne and excelled in his studies. He went on to become a prolific writer, producing works in various styles. Merle's novel "Week-end à Zuydcoote" won the prestigious Prix Goncourt, cementing his place in French literature. One of his most notable works is the 13-book series of historical novels, "Fortune de France," which recreates 16th and 17th century France through the eyes of a fictitious Protestant doctor turned spy. Merle wrote the series in the period's French, making it virtually untranslatable, which speaks to his dedication to authenticity and historical accuracy.
Merle's novels "Un animal doué de la raison" (A Sentient Animal, 1967)" and "Malevil" (1972) were both translated into English and adapted into films. "Un animal doué de la raison," a stark Cold War satire inspired by John Lilly's studies of dolphins and the Caribbean Crisis, was adapted into the film "Day of the Dolphin," although the film bore little resemblance to Merle's story. "Malevil," a post-apocalyptic story, is another notable work that showcases Merle's versatility as a writer. Merle died of a heart attack at his home La Malmaison in Grosrouvre near Paris.