2025Alain Decaux 1925-2016 - Set

On July 24, 2025, La Poste will issue a stamp bearing the image of Alain Decaux, a French historian, writer, journalist, and television personality. He was elected to the Académie Française in 1979, on the centenary of his birth.

For decades, historian Alain Decaux (1925-2016) narrated the history of France to millions of listeners, viewers, and readers. Born in Lille, the son of a lawyer studied law in Paris and, without worrying about obtaining a degree, took history classes as an auditor for pleasure. He quickly turned to journalism and writing, publishing his first history book at the age of 22. Two years later, his second book, Letizia: Napoleon and His Mother, received the History Prize from the Académie Française!

As a teenager, he discovered the novels of Alexandre Dumas and became interested in his grandfather's vision, a schoolteacher who understood history as a "national novel." Could this have sparked his vocation as a storyteller?

In 1951, with his partner André Castelot, he created La Tribune de l'histoire for radio, a popular success that lasted 46 years! Then, on television, he held millions of viewers spellbound with cult programs like La caméra explore le temps, Alain Decaux raconte, and L'Histoire en question. Alone on screen, live and without a teleprompter, with a certain sense of drama, he recounted the life of a character or a historical event, and the French adored him.

An incredibly prolific author, he wrote more than fifty books, film scripts, and plays. This devout believer began writing successful historical plays with A Man Called Jesus, then De Gaulle and Ben Hur. His election to the Académie française (1979) confirmed his talent as a writer. This lover of the French language was appointed Minister for the Francophonie in 1988.

Consistent throughout his work, without compromising on the need for historical truth or avoiding the complexity of history, this generous man knew how to share his passion and instill a love of history among as many people as possible.

Association of Friends of Alain Decaux
The Association of Friends of Alain Decaux aims to continue the message to all audiences regarding the transmission of history and the influence of the French language.

Alain Decaux also used his reputation to promote heritage. As President of the Friends of Alexandre Dumas, he helped save and have the Château de Monte Cristo in the Yvelines region listed. As President of the College of Curators of the Chantilly estate and its château, he restored them to their former splendor alongside Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the Institut de France, and public institutions.

In 2025, for the centenary of his birth, the Association of Friends of Alain Decaux is paying tribute to him through a rich series of events: traveling exhibitions, podcasts for middle schools, and support for the Alain Decaux International Prize for French-language short stories with the Fondation de Lille and the French Language Delegation.

Frédéric Nancel, President of the Association of Friends of Alain Decaux, welcomes the national release of the stamp bearing the academician's image issued by La Poste.