Pierre Benoit (1886-1962) was a novelist and member of the Académie française. Pierre Benoit, born in Albi (southern France) was the son of a French soldier. Benoit spent his early years and military service in Northern Africa, before becoming a civil servant. His first novel, Koenigsmark, was published in 1918; L"Atlantide followed the next year and was awarded the Grand Prize of the Académie française. Benoit became a member of the Académie in 1931.