Vian, Boris

French author born in the Paris suburb of Ville-d'Avray. Boris Vian went to school in Paris and trained as an engineer at L’Ecole Central. It was clear early on that he suffered from an inborn heart disease. After obtaining his degree he held a subordinate position at the French standardization department and enjoyed himself with writing at the side. He also played the trumpet in a jazz band, wrote music criticism, especially about jazz, and for a period he himself edited the magazine Jazz news. He had a column, "Chronique du menteur" ("the Lier's Column"), in Jean-Paul Sartre's magazine Les Temps modernes. He wrote film manuscripts, drama, songs, and novels and was the artistic leader for a record company. In short, he dedicated himself to a formidable multiplicity of occupations. He attributed his restlessness to his sleeplessness. In 1952 he was elected transcendent satrap at the pataphysical college in Paris.