French Spy Novelist Gérard de Villiers’ and his Factual Fiction

Gérard de Villiers may be the most famous French writer you’ve never heard of.

He churns out three sex-filled spy thrillers a year and sells millions of copies.

What’s interesting is that a number of his terrorist and espionage plot twists have actually happened in real life – well after they appeared in book form.

Marco Werman speaks with New York Times reporter Robert Worth who recently profiled Gérard de Villiers for the Sunday New York Times Magazine.

Will you support The World?

Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.

Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.