Alain Rey

Alain Rey, captivated by words from childhood, built his career around a profound love for the French language and its myriad ways of naming the world. Through his dictionaries, books, and writings, he consistently illuminated the richness, challenges, and mysteries inherent in language. He found joy in exploring language as it is used, reflecting both historical legacies and present vitality. Dubbed a 'living national treasure,' Rey acted as a linguistic detective, meticulously detailing the origins and evolution of words. His monumental historical dictionary of the French language, a decades-long endeavor, reveals ten centuries of linguistic change, charting the development of our society and ideas.