Origins & Early Life

Gérard de Villiers (French: [ʒeʁaʁ də vilje]; 8 December 1929 – 31 October 2013) was a French writer, journalist and publisher whose SAS series of spy novels have been major bestsellers. Born in Paris in 1929, Villiers was the son of playwright Jacques Adam de Villiers (known by his stage name of Jacques Deval) and his wife. His father was both prolific and a spendthrift. The younger Villiers attended high school and graduated from Sciences Po university in Paris.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He also obtained a degree from the École supérieure de journalisme de Paris. He began writing during the 1950s for France Soir, a French daily, and became a foreign correspondent. He found "the blend of risk and cold calculation" in intelligence work to be "seductive". In 1964 Villiers began to write and publish spy novels. He had acquaintances among the military and intelligence services who enjoyed helping Villiers describe them and their acts in fiction.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He is the author of the spy novel series SAS, publishing his first volume in 1965. It tells the adventures of the Austrian prince and CIA agent Malko Linge, referred to in the first title as "SAS" (Son Altesse Sérénissime i.e. "His Serene Highness"). Villiers...

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