André Malraux (1901–1976) was a French novelist and critic whose work profoundly engages with existential themes, particularly the human struggle against mortality, silence, and the pursuit of meaning. His novels are renowned for their intellectual and philosophical depth, often exploring the tension between individualism and universal forces. Claude-Edmonde Magny delves into this tension in his analysis of Malraux's seminal work, La Condition Humaine, highlighting the narrative's philosophical narrative style. Malraux's exploration of death as a complex theme is further examined by T. Jefferson Kline, who notes how Malraux provokes imagination and challenges Western perspectives on mortality.

Malraux's works are not only philosophical but also artistically rich, as R. J. North observes, with his novels often set against historically significant backdrops. His writing style, which combines reality with self-dramatization and vivid prose, is analyzed by William Cloonan, who discusses how these elements contribute to the profound human dilemmas Malraux presents. In La Condition Humaine, Edmund Wilson describes the novel as complex and original, infused with Marxist overtones yet philosophically profound.

As Malraux's career progressed, so did his philosophical focus, evolving from a tragic humanism to an emphasis on human dignity. This transition is noted by W. M. Frohock, who examines this shift in later works such as Man's Fate and Man's Hope. Despite criticisms like those from Leon Trotsky, who argues that The Conquerors lacks revolutionary insight, Malraux's contributions to literature are undeniably significant. His novels engage deeply with themes of human transcendence and the metaphysical, cementing his legacy as a pivotal literary figure of the 20th century.