Biography
François-Régis Bastide (born 1 July 1926 in Biarritz; died 16 April 1996 in Paris) was a French author, diplomat, politician, and radio presenter.
Born in Biarritz in the French Basque region, Bastide attended school in Bayonne. In October 1944, he joined General Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division and took part in the final operations on the Western Front during World War II.
His debut novel, Lettre de Bavière, was published in 1947. Bastide continued writing and received the Grand Prix de la Critique in 1953 for his biographical essay Saint-Simon par lui-même, centered on Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, and the Prix Femina in 1956 for his novel Les Adieux. Beginning in 1953, Bastide also embarked on a nearly three-decade career as a book editor with Éditions du Seuil. His work extended to theatre, with plays like Siegfried 78, and television, notably the award-winning Le Troisième concerto (grand prix de la Télévision, 1963) and the mini-series L'Éducation sentimentale, adapted from Gustave Flaubert's Sentimental Education. In 1981, the Académie française honored him with the Pierre de Régnier Prize for his lifetime accomplishments.
Following World War II, Bastide started his radio career as a host on "Radio Sarrebruck," then under French military administration. From 1949 onward, he worked with ORTF as a producer and presenter. He gained widespread recognition as one of the original co-hosts, alongside Michel Polac, of the enduring radio talk show Le Masque et la Plume, which focuses on discussions of cinema, literature, and theatre. The program launched in 1955 on France Inter and continues to air; Bastide departed from the show in 1982.
Bastide was politically engaged throughout his life. Between 1968 and 1976, he served as president of the radio producers and presenters section of the influential CFDT trade union. Associated with the Socialist Party, he served as a city councilor in Biarritz in 1977 and as a national delegate in 1978. He co-authored the 1978 "Bastide report," which paved the way for the establishment of the Haute Autorité de la communication audiovisuelle four years later. After François Mitterrand's 1981 presidential victory, Bastide embarked on a diplomatic career, holding posts as Ambassador to Denmark (1982–1985), Ambassador to Austria (1985–1988), and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO (1988–1990).
