Blaise Cendrars

Blaise Cendrars (1887–1961), whose real name was Frédéric-Louis Sauser, was a French-speaking Swiss writer and adventurer. He left home at the age of 16 and travelled, among other places, to Russia, Manchuria, China and the United States. After working in various occupations, he also became a publisher, reporter and correspondent. During the First World War, he volunteered for the French Foreign Legion and lost his right hand in combat. His best-known works include the novels Gold, Moravagine and Dan Yack. His body of work comprises around 40 books.