Claude Roy (1915-1997) was a major figure of the French literature of the second half of the twentieth century. In his youth he participated in the troubled political and literary life of his time and during World War II fought in the Resistance. Great traveler and author of many works including poetry - highly praised by Octavio Paz, a personal friend of Roy -, journalism, novels, travel books, essays, journals, children's literature and criticism, Claude Roy was a man of immense culture and strong humanistic convictions noted for his defense of the dignity of man against all the systems that oppressed him.