Nimier was born in Paris, and served in the French Army, specifically in the 2nd Hussard Regiment in the Second World War (until 1945).
Nimier was the recognized leader of the Hussards, a literary group which included notably Antoine Blondin, Michel Déon and Jacques Laurent, opposed to existentialism.
He was opposed to the figure of the "engaged writer" symbolized by Jean-Paul Sartre.
Nimier most famous work is considered to be The Blue Hussar published in 1950.
[2] Nimier also wrote in monarchist review La Nation française.