The political laboratory in the works of Romain Gary

Resumen

Modern French writer of Russian extraction Romain Gary, is the only writer in the history of French literature to have won the Prix Goncourt twice, a successful statesman, famous diplomat, secretary and counsellor of the French embassy in Sofia and Berne, consul-general in Los Angeles, a military pilot of air squadron Lorraine, Resistance member during the Second World War, Commander of Legion of Honour, Charles de Gaulle`s friend, literary mystifier of the XX century and essayist. In his novels A European Education, Tulip, Promise at Dawn, Europe, The Dance of Genghis Cohn, Charge d”™í¢me, Star eaters, Roots of the sky, Lady L., Enchanters, Anguish of king Solomon, Les Cerfs-volants and in other books Romain Gary wrote about war, concentration camps, fascist occupation, post-war confusion, extremism, struggle of superpowers for spheres of influence, nuclear matter, dangerous for mankind, terrorism, problems of racial discrimination. Today his works and lifestyle are exposed to repeated analysis: contemporaries try to understand the riddle of his literary mystification with tragic demise. He referred himself to discriminated minority: at the age of 14 he came to France with his mother and it was hard for him to fit into French society as well as for majority of emigrants; they lived in dire poverty.

Romain Gary`s personal experience was his political and linguistic laboratory. Recently the problem of immigration has been the centre of attention of politicians, sociologists and public figures; this proves topicality and scientific novelty of this research. We deal with literary phenomenon going beyond artistic creativity and defying political system of France and its elite. To escape strong attack and outbreak of public indignation Romain Gary published his novels under the pseudonym. He wrote under many pseudonyms including: Shatan Bogat, Fosco Sinibaldi, Emile Ajar, even Romain Gary. His real name was Romain Kacew. His novel The Life Before Us is analysed in this article for the first time: it has never been considered in the context of political and historical reality before. Modern France, described by R.  Gary in his novel, offers a fruitful material for politicians and historians. Theoretical and practical significance of this research is in the possibility of using its propositions in courses in history, diplomacy and in special courses in literature and civilization of France.