Aubry, Ernest Seillière, Jean Tharaud, René Grousset and Robert d'Harcourt were the five members of the Académie française elected on 1 February 1946, to replace the many vacancies left by the Nazi occupation of Europe.
Aubry himself succeeded cardinal Alfred Baudrillart in seat 8, but died a month and a half after his election, the day before he was due to present his reception speech to the Commission de lecture.
His first published work was a collection of poems, entitled Of Love, Irony, Pity.
He also authored numerous scholarly books on the great historical figures of 19th century.
One of his most famous works was The Journey to St. Helena, a book to write for which he spent several weeks on the island.