In 1952, he answered a small ad and became Paul Robert's first collaborator: he would stay sixty-eight years in the house, writing or directing all its dictionaries from 1967 onwards. At eighty-nine, he was still working with Squeezie and Bigflo & Oli.
The story
In 1952 a classified advertisement sought an assistant for a Dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique de la langue française then in preparation. Alain Rey answered it, became the first member of Paul Robert's team, and never left the house again: sixty-eight years.
Born at Pont-du-Château on 30 August 1928 and through his baccalaureate at fifteen, he had passed through hypokhâgne, Sciences Po — without taking the degree — literature and art history at the Sorbonne, then military service in Algeria and Tunisia. In 1954 he married the linguist Josette Debove, and would work with her until 2005.
From 1967 he wrote or directed every Robert dictionary: half a century of French lexicography carries his mark. Radio made him a familiar voice — “Le Mot de la fin” on France Inter from 1993 to 2006, and “Démo des mots” on France 2. In 2017, at eighty-nine, he was still working with Squeezie and with Bigflo & Oli.
He died in Paris on 28 October 2020, at ninety-two. The man who defined hundreds of thousands of words rests beneath a plaque that carries two.
The grave
A simple plaque, bearing two elements: “Alain REY, 1928-2020”. No mention of the Robert, all of whose dictionaries he wrote or directed for more than half a century, nor of France Inter, where his voice was familiar. The man who defined hundreds of thousands of words rests beneath two words and two dates.
On site, do not miss
A simple plaque: “Alain REY, 1928-2020.” Neither the Robert, nor the dictionaries, nor the radio.
Visitors' questions
Where is Alain Rey's grave?
In Division 44, Avenue Transversale No. 2, first row, beneath a plain plaque: “Alain REY, 1928-2020”. The Division is one of the busiest in the cemetery — that of Allan Kardec and Sarah Bernhardt.
Michel LegrandHow did he join the Robert?
Through a classified advertisement, in 1952: Paul Robert was looking for an assistant for his Dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique. Alain Rey answered it, became the first member of the team, and never left — sixty-eight years.
Marc FumaroliWhich dictionaries did he edit?
Every Robert dictionary from 1967 on: he wrote them, or ran the team that did, for more than half a century. His wife, the linguist Josette Debove, whom he had married in 1954, worked at his side until 2005.
Michel VinaverWas he known on the radio?
Yes: “Le Mot de la fin”, his daily word slot on France Inter from 1993 to 2006, then “Démo des mots” on France 2. In 2017, at eighty-nine, he was still working with the YouTuber Squeezie and the rap duo Bigflo & Oli.
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