Pierre Fournier, also known by his pen name Pierre Gascar, was a multifaceted French creative individual, excelling as a journalist, literary critic, writer, essayist, and screenwriter.
Born in Paris on March 13, 1916, Gascar spent part of his childhood in Périgord after his mother's institutionalization, an experience that would later inspire his literary works, including La Graine and Meilleur de la Vie.
After completing high school, Gascar returned to Paris, becoming involved in left-wing politics and associating with writers. His imprisonment in a German stalag during World War II had a profound impact on his writing, as seen in Le temps des Morts, which recounts his experiences as a gravedigger at the Rava-Ruska prison camp in Ukraine, where he was conscripted to track down Jews hiding in the area.
Following the war, Gascar pursued a career in journalism, eventually devoting himself entirely to his literary work after winning the Prix Goncourt in 1953 for Les Bêtes and Le temps des morts.
Characterized by his exploration of the intricate relationships between plants, animals, and people, Gascar's writing gained widespread recognition and appreciation. He authored biographies, focusing on figures who shared his traits, such as his thirst for knowledge, independence, and sense of restlessness.
Among his notable biographical works are those about Humboldt, Buffon, and Bernard Palissy. Additionally, Gascar wrote studies of nature, taking a poetic and philosophical approach, as seen in major works like Le présage, Les sources, and Le règne végétal.
Gascar's screenplay for Georges Franju's film Les Yeux sans visage (1960) was a significant contribution to his body of work, which also includes plays, picture books, and prefaces.
Throughout his career, Gascar received numerous accolades, including the Grand Prix of the Académie Française and the Prix Roger Caillois in 1994. He shared Caillox's fascination with the natural world while maintaining a strong focus on its relationship with human society.
Gascar passed away in 1997, and the majority of his works were published by Éditions Gallimard.
