[g]
Comme
Romain Gary
(1914-1980)

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Ajar. Sinibaldi. Bogat. Nombreuses sont les identités de Roman Kacew - l’homme qui se fit d’abord connaître sous le pseudonyme de Romain Gary. À la fois diplomate, aviateur, traducteur de ses propres textes, l’écrivain multiplie et déplie les fictions de soi, à commencer par celle du romancier - ce qui lui offrira de recevoir à deux reprises, cars ous deux noms différents, le prix Goncourt. Est-ce pour cela que l’indomptable choisit de s’établir à Saint-Germain-des-Prés, quartier des récits s’il en est? Pour Gary, œuvre et vie ne peuvent exister qu’entremêlées. «J’ai tout le temps mal chez les autres», confie-t-il. Ecrire pour s’inventer, se réinventer; écrire pour se jouer du temps et dejouer le temps qui passe. Vies plurielles de celui qui déclara un jour: « Je me suis toujours été un autre.»

© Jerry Bauer, Opale, Bridgeman Images

The myth of Saint-Germain" - personalities who contributed to the history of the neighborhood, an exhibition on display at the metro station of Saint-Germain. For more details, see the following sign Click for sign's details

The letter displayed at the top of the sign indicates the letter in the name of the station dedicated to the current personality, as can be seen in the following photo taken on the same day, which also includes the photo of Romain Gary Click for a larger image

Romain Gary (1914-1980) French writer, film director and diplomat known by the pen name Émile Ajar. The film version of his book "The Life Before Us" won the Oscar. Gary twice won the highest literary award in France - the Prix Goncourt - this although the award was given only once, Gary won the award once under the name Emile Ajar and once as Romain Gary, this is because the identity of Émile Ajar was unknown.
Gary ended his life in his apartment in Paris, and only in the suicide note he left did he state that he was indeed Émile Ajar.

Translation of the text on the sign:
[g]
As
Romain Gary
(1914-1980)

Ajar. Sinibaldi. Bogat. There are many identities for Roman Kacew - the man who first became known under the pseudonym Romain Gary. At the same time diplomat, aviator, translator of his own texts, the writer multiplies and unfolds the fictions of himself, starting with that of the novelist - which will allow him to receive the Goncourt Prize twice, because or two different names. . Is this why the indomitable chose to settle in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a neighborhood of stories if ever there was one? For Gary, work and life can only exist intertwined. “I feel bad about other people all the time,” he confides. Write to invent yourself, reinvent yourself; write to play with time and outwit the passing of time. Plural lives of the one who one day declared: “I have always been someone else.”

© Jerry Bauer, Opal, Bridgeman Images