Airplanes

Romain Gary is the only French writer to have been awarded the Prix Goncourt twice: first under the surname Gary for the novel "Les racines du ciel" (1956), and second under the pseudonym Émile Ajar for the book "La vie devant soi" (1975). After the "Ajar" epic—one of the loudest literary hoaxes of the 20th century—when the public and critics did not recognize the handwriting of the celebrated prose writer in Ajar's texts, Gary published his last novel "Airplanes" and soon thereafter took his own life. This is a novel about World War II, about occupation, about the French Resistance, but most importantly—about love. A Normandy boy, Ludo, has been in love with his peer named Lila, who belongs to the Polish aristocracy, since he was ten years old. The difference in social status causes him much suffering and humiliation. Ludo is an orphan. He is raised by his uncle, a rural postman, who makes kites. These colorful paper figures, ships, flying fortresses soar into the sky, making the boy believe that any earthly barriers can be overcome. The war begins, and the grown-up Ludo joins the fight for his love and for the liberation of France from the Nazis.