Originally published in 1975 under the title La Vie devant soi (and first translated into English as Momo ), is a hauntingly beautiful tale of survival, devotion, and the invisible bonds shared by those on the margins of society. The Story Behind the Book
Set in the immigrant slum of , the story follows a young Muslim orphan named Momo (Mohammed). Momo (The Life Before Us) (original)
The novel is famously part of one of literature’s greatest hoaxes. It was written by under the pseudonym Émile Ajar . Because Gary had already won the prestigious Prix Goncourt (which can only be awarded once per author), he used the pseudonym to win it a second time, a secret that was only fully revealed after his death. Plot & Setting Originally published in 1975 under the title La
Momo is raised by Madame Rosa , an elderly Jewish woman and Auschwitz survivor who formerly worked as a prostitute. She now runs an illegal boarding house for the children of other "ladies of the night". It was written by under the pseudonym Émile Ajar
The novel features a colorful, empathetic cast of outcasts who form a makeshift family: Romain Gary (Emile Ajar): The Life Before Us