Frédéric Charles Antoine Dard, a French literary luminary, emerged onto the scene on June 29, 1921, in the charming town of Bourgoin-Jallieu, nestled in the picturesque department of Isère, France. Throughout his illustrious career, Dard would go on to author an astonishing number of works, with his impressive bibliography boasting in excess of three hundred novels, plays, and screenplays.
As a master of his craft, Dard penned his literary masterpieces under both his own name and a variety of pseudonyms, including the pseudonym that would bring him widespread acclaim: San-Antonio.
Notable among Dard's creations is the captivating character of Detective Superintendent Antoine San-Antonio, a French equivalent of James Bond, devoid of reliance on gadgets, yet possessing a unique blend of wit, charm, and cunning. San-Antonio is often accompanied by his trusted and seasoned colleagues, the astute and venerable Inspector César Pinaud, and the imposing Inspector Alexandre-Benoît Bérurier, who together form a formidable team.
As a high-ranking member of the French secret service, San-Antonio is entrusted with the daunting task of completing seemingly impossible missions assigned to him by the enigmatic and authoritative "Le Vieux" (the Old Man),later revealed to be none other than "Achilles", the head of the French police, who holds the reins of power and wisdom.
Throughout the entirety of his multifaceted and action-packed journey, the enigmatic and resourceful protagonist, San-Antonio, consistently demonstrates an uncanny ability to triumph over adversity, often relying on the expertise and camaraderie of his trusted colleagues, as he navigates a series of heart-pumping, pulse-racing, and intellectually stimulating escapades that test his mettle and push him to his limits.
The literary prowess of Dard was met with widespread acclaim, culminating in the prestigious 1957 Grand prix de littérature policière award, which honored his remarkable novel "The Executioner Weeps" for its exceptional merit and literary excellence.
