French Literature in the Making

Olivier Barrot is a man of many facets. A TV personality, he hosts the daily literary show Un Livre par jour (France 3, TV 5 ), in which he interviews well-known literary figures. Editor-in-Chief of the cultural magazine Senso, he is also the author of numerous books on literature, cinema, and travel. His recent works include: Noir et Blanc (with Raymond Chirat, 2000); Lettres d'Amérique (with Philippe Labro, 2001); Je ne suis pas là (2004); and Voyage au pays des salles obscures (with Alain Bouldouyre, 2006).

CECILE GUILBERT	Monday, September 24, 2007 - 7:00 p.m. Cécile Guilbert, an essayist, is author of Saint-Simon ou l'encre de la subversion (1994); and Pour Guy Debord (1996). L'écrivain le plus libre (2004) is a mixture of biography, commentary, and imaginary dialogue, highlighting the character of the English libertine pastor, Laurence Sterne (1713-1768). Her forthcoming work is entitled, Surviving Andy Warhol. She is also the author of the novel, Le Musée National. Watch the video
CLAUDE ARNAUD	*Monday, October 22, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.* Claude Arnaud is a novelist, biographer and essayist, winner in 2006 of the Prix Femina de l'Essai for his work Qui dit je en nous ? His first novel, Le Caméléon, received the Prix Femina du premier roman in 2004. His other works include Chamfort (1988); Le Jeu des quatre coins (1998); and, a biography, Jean Cocteau (2003). Watch the video
CLEMENCE BOULOUQUE	*Monday, Novembre 19, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.* Clémence Boulouque is a novelist and the winner of the 2003 Prix Fénéon for her first novel, Mort d'un silence (2003), which deals with her childhood and her father's death. It has been adapted into a film by William Karel, entitled La Fille du Juge. Her books include Sujets libres (2004); Le Goût de Tanger (2004); Au Pays des Macarons (2005); Chasse à Courre (2005); and recently Nuit ouverte (2007). She is also a literary reviewer for Le Figaro and France Culture. Watch the video
JEAN ECHENOZ	*Monday, February 11, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.* (Simultaneous translation into English) Novelist Jean Echenoz is the winner of several literary prizes: the Prix Médicis for Cherokee (1983); the Prix Novembre for Les grandes blondes (1995); and the Prix Goncourt for Je m’en vais (1999). His other books include Le Méridien de Greenwich (1979); Nous trois (1995); L’Equipée malaise (1999); Jérôme Lindon (2001), an homage to his publisher. A number of his works have been translated into English, including his most recent novel, Ravel (2006). Watch the video
LINDA LÊ Photo credit Mathieu Bourgeois	Monday, March 3, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. (*Simultaneous translation into English) Linda Lê, a writer and literary historian, left her native Vietnam for France at the age of 14 after the fall of Saigon. Her first novel, Un si tendre vampire* (1986), was published when she was just 23 years old. Her works include Les Evangiles du crime (1992); Calomnies (1993); Les Dits d’un Idiot (1995); Les Trois Parques (1998); Lettre morte (1999); Voix (1999); Les Aubes (2000); Autres Jeux avec le Feu (2002); and Personne (2003). Her latest novel, In Memoriam, was shortlisted for both the Prix Femina and the Prix Médicis in 2007.
MICHEL SCHNEIDER	*Monday, May 5, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.* (Simultaneous translation into English) Michel Schneider is a writer as well as a magistrate at the Cour des Comptes, a psychoanalyst, and a former Director of Music at the French Ministry of Culture. His 2006 novel, Marilyn, dernières séances, based on the myth of Marilyn Monroe, was awarded the Prix Interallié. Other books include Glenn Gould, piano solo (1988); La Tombée du jour (1989); Maman (1999); Big Mother (2003); and Morts imaginaires (2003), awarded the Prix de l’Essai Médicis.

These events are made possible through the generous support of the Florence Gould Foundation with additional support from Directours, L'Avion, CulturesFrance, and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.