Jean François Deniau has been Président de Conseil général, ambassador, minister, European deputy, member of the Académie française, grand officer of the Legion of Honour, and a specialist in high risk conflicts and hostage liberation as well. He is the author of several works, including La lune et le miroir, Le grand jeu, Tadjoura, l'Ile Madame, La mer est ronde and, at Plon, Survivre, Histoires de courage, Mémoires de 7 vies, and Le secret du roi des serpents (tales, translated into Korean).