Robert Pinget; Novelist, Playwright

Robert Pinget, 78, a Swiss-born writer who became a leading figure in France’s Nouveau Roman movement. A prolific author, Pinget published more than a score of novels, plays, essays and collections of short stories after his first book appeared in 1951. He was known for rich use of dialogue and exploration of gossip. In reviewing Pinget’s 1983 book “That Voice,” a Times reviewer noted: “The work is rich in images that, like snatches of overheard conversation, stick to the linings of memory.” Although the genre is often considered dark and hard to follow, a Times foreign correspondent said after attending several of Pinget’s plays performed at the Avignon Drama Festival in 1987: “Pinget’s plays were successful, vibrant and funny enough to ensure them an audience when they’re revived in Paris.” On Aug. 26 in Tours, France.