Gérard de Villiers

Gérard de Villiers (born Dec 8 1929, Paris) is a French writer, journalist and editor.

Life

De Villiers is the son of Jacques Adam de Villiers and a graduate of the ESJ Paris (Superior School of Journalism in Paris).

He is the author of the spy novel series "SAS", from 1965 which tells the adventures of the Austrian prince and CIA agent Malko Linge. "SAS" is a play on initials: "Son Altesse Sérénissime" (SAS) is the French version of "His Royal Highness" (HRH); and the British Special Air Service (SAS); the principal special forces unit of the British Army. As of 2007 171 novels of the franchise have been penned, with usually the locale of the story featuring in the title (like "Les amazones de Pyongyang"' or "Putsch à Ouagadougou"). Miles O'Keefe played Malko in the 1983 film "S.A.S. à San Salvador" with Richard Young in the role in "Eye of the Widow" (1989) directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.

De Villiers is well-known for writing novels in tune with contemporary events, such as conflicts or terrorist threats of the moment, and for visiting theatres of operation.

The author is an outspoken right-winger. He was criticized for expressing far right sympathies when he declared in 1981, in "Minute", that he saw "excellent things in the Front National". As a result his works are banned from sale in book shops but sell at railway stations and airports [ [http://www.champs-elyseesblog.com/archives/2007/10/sas_malko_linge.php French culture and life in France - Champs-Elysees Blog: SAS Malko Linge ] ] published by De Villiers' own company.

In a Guardian article Bernard-Henri Lévy admitted reading SAS books was a guilty pleasure. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2007/feb/03/weekend7.weekend5 Philip Oltermann confers with some great brains about their guilty pleasures | From the Guardian | The Guardian ] ]

References

Bibliography

* Christophe Deloire, « Gérard de Villiers : Le mercenaire du polar », "Le Point", January 13, 2005

External links

*Get out of Afghanistan: France's million-selling spy writer http://sundaytimes.lk/071007/International/international000015.html
*France's James Bond Gets the Scoop on the Hunt for Carlos http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D06E5D8113BF93BA2575AC0A962958260
*Looking desperately for spies in Macau: from golden guns to nukes http://www.macaubusiness.com/index.php?id=826

Fansites

* [http://www.malkolinge.com S.A.S. Malko Linge]
* [http://www.editionsgdv.com Éditions Gérard de Villiers - Official website]