René Barjavel was born on January 24, 1911, in Nyons, France. His father was a baker, his grandparents were peasants and his origins influenced his work.

Barjavel is still a relatively unknown writer outside France: just a few of his novels have been translated into other languages, making it impossible to give a complete opinion on his work. Inevitably a pessimistic novel such as “Ravage” may discourage readers from seeking more of his stories that could provide a deeper insight into René Barjavel’s ideas and how they evolved out of the dark time of the war.