Bernard Clavel was born in Lons-le-Saunier, France. He was raised in a house without books, running water, or electricity. At age 14, he started working as a pastry cook apprentice. He held many jobs, until 1945, when he was discharged from the service, and he settled on the banks of the Rhone and tried to live off his painting. But it the birth of his second child forced him back into employement, and he went to work as a book-keeper for Social Security. He stayed there nine years. His first novel, Night Worker (L'Ouvrier de la nuit), was published in 1956. In 1964, he became a full-time writer. He has produced nearly 40 novels as well as several collections of stories and books for children.