Boris Vian was a French polymath known for his diverse talents as a writer, poet, musician, singer, translator, critic, actor, inventor, and engineer. He was born on 10 March 1920 and passed away on 23 June 1959. Vian is best remembered for his novels such as L’Écume des jours and L'Arrache-cœur (translated into English as Froth on the Daydream and Heartsnatcher, respectively). His fiction published under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan included highly controversial "criminal" novels.

Vian's influence extended deeply into the French jazz scene; he served as a liaison for great musicians such as Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis in Paris. He wrote for several French jazz-reviews, including Le Jazz Hot and Paris Jazz, and published numerous articles about jazz both in the United States and in France. His musical works, especially the anti-war song "Le Déserteur" (The Deserter), gained considerable popularity during his lifetime.

Vian's writing was characterized by a unique style full of made-up words, subtle wordplay, and surrealistic plots. His novel Froth on the Daydream remains one of his most celebrated works, known for its imaginative and whimsical narrative.