Better known by his pen name Saint John Perse than his actsappeared behind the poet, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1960. His metamorphosis was two fold, between the two World wars the poet was hidden by the diplomat who led a dazzling career, nominated General Secretary of the Foreign Ministry in 1933. But in May 1940, he was designated as one of those accountable for France’s defeat, when Reynaud dismissed him. Marginalized by his opposition to de Gaulle and his departure to America, he represented the errors of French diplomacy at the time of Liberation. Largely ignored and occasionally criticized by French historiography, Alexis Léger preferred to endorse the poet corpse he had first sacrificed for his career, and confront posterity with his pen name, although without renouncing to preen himself of his political career. Insofar as building his legend, he always tried to separate his two personalities. He has been a diplomat as any other, scrupulously away from literary life. And on the other side, a poet, unattached to his era, unconcerned with history contingencies. Eventually exaggerating the separation between his two lives. In effect, his literary award allowed his first diplomatic successes, when he has been introduced to Berthelot, as “Eulogies” writer. His award brought him to the Foreign Affairs ministry. Poet among the poets, he tried to find the material conditions necessary for the independence of his art. The dexterous synthesis he reached, between the modern ability of a technician and the antique majesty of a poet, permitted him to succeed in redeeming his dropout Creole origin, and foll owing his way up to the top of Foreign Affairs ministry, at the expense of poetry.ual name Alexis Léger, the French diplomat who gradually di