Robert Merle was a renowned French novelist celebrated for his diverse literary styles and impactful storytelling. Born on August 28, 1908, in Tébessa, a part of the French colony of Algeria at the time, Merle moved with his family to France in 1918.

Merle's literary prowess was recognized early on when he won the Prix Goncourt for his novel Week-end à Zuydcoote. His significant contributions to literature include a 13-book series of historical novels, Fortune de France, which vividly recreates the 16th and 17th-century France through the perspective of a fictitious Protestant doctor turned spy. Demonstrating his dedication to authenticity, he wrote this series in the period's French, making it virtually untranslatable.

Among Merle's other notable works are Un animal doué de la raison (A Sentient Animal, 1967), a sharp Cold War satire influenced by John Lilly's studies of dolphins, and Malevil (1972), a gripping post-apocalyptic tale. Both novels gained international attention, being translated into English and adapted into films.