Initially an actor, Georges Perros began his literary career by writing poems, reviews and mini-essays in the Nouvelle Revue Française and other magazines. His stylistic freshness and frank critical judgements were imme- diately spotted and encouraged by Jean Paulhan, a key Gallimard editor and luminary. Among his best-known works are Poèmes bleus (Blue Poems, 1962) and Une vie ordinaire (An Ordinary Life, 1967).