Maurice Druon was a French novelist born on 23 April 1918 in Paris and passed away on 14 April 2009. He was a distinguished member of the Académie Française, where he served as the "Perpetual Secretary" or chairman from 1985 to 1999.

Druon was the nephew of the writer Joseph Kessel. Together, they co-wrote the "Chant des Partisans", an anthem for the French Resistance during the Second World War, with music composed by Anna Marly.

In 1948, Druon was awarded the Prix Goncourt for his novel Les grandes familles. On December 8, 1966, he was elected to the 30th seat of the Académie française, succeeding Georges Duhamel.

While his scholarly work earned him a seat at the Académie, Maurice Druon is best known for his series of seven historical novels published in the 1950s under the title Les Rois Maudits (The Accursed Kings).

In addition to his literary achievements, he served as the Minister of Cultural Affairs in 1973 and 1974 in Pierre Messmer's cabinet and was a deputy of Paris from 1978 to 1981.