French writer Maurice Druon dies at 90

The renowned French writer and former culture minister, Maurice Druon, who fought in the World War II resistance movement dies at 90. Known for his series of historical novels, The Accursed Kings, Druon died at the age of 90 on Tuesday, the Academie Francaise announced. Druon wrote over 50 books between 1942 and 2006 and received the 1948 Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary prize, for his novel Les Grandes Familles. Druon was elected to the Academie Francaise to succeed Georges Duhamel in 1966, and served as the French culture minister in the early 1970s, AFP reported. Druon, who was known as a fervent protector of the French language and traditions, was hailed by President Nicolas Sarkozy as a 'grand scribe and a grand soul.'