You probably remember the phenomenal success of « La vérité sur l’affaire Harry Quebert » published three years ago exactly by Editions de Fallois. In Great Britain, Germany and in Italy it was equally successful with over 2 million copies sold by 35 publishers world wide in hard cover. The very young (27 at the time) Swiss writer had set his psychological … Read More
Young talents at Publicis
There are a few magical hidden places in Paris and the terrace on top of the Publicis building, on place de l’Etoile, is one of them. Each year in September, a poetry and a literary prize are given to a young writer by the Fondation pour la Vocation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet and a relaxed and yet delicious lunch follows on the … Read More
Cap Ferret launches the “Rentrée Littéraire”
Eating foie gras and swimming in huge waves on Ocean beach at Cap Ferret, a trendy summer resort an hour south of Bordeaux, is wonderful enough but when you do it at the end of the summer, in the company of such brilliant writers as Alain Mabanckou, Brigitte Giraud and Philippe Trétiack, it is much more fun.
At Centre Pompidou Metz, the world of Michel Leiris.
« It is through modern art that I discovered « art nègre » at 20, and eventually became an ethnologist » says, Michel Leiris (1901-1990). who is the focus of an exhibition of 350 works at Centre Pompidou Metz. He is one of those extraodinary characters who wrote poetry, went on long expeditions from Dakar to Djibouti (1931-33) while he … Read More
After ten years, “The Cost of Courage”
It’s about time for Charles Kaiser to celebrate ! He has been at work on his new book « The Cost of Courage » for ten years, including three in Paris for research. The result is a very authentic and clearly written story of the Boulloche, a typical high society French catholic family, with a very unusual destiny. Three of … Read More
Divorced at 10!
Sheikha Prohaska-Alatas and Khadija Al Salami met in Paris fifteen years ago. And it feels like the film, directed by the Yemenite documentary director, is the result of this long friendship. « I am Nojoom, age 10 and divorced » won the first Prize at the Dubaï film festival on December 16, 2014. It is based on a book published … Read More
An author, a translator and a great book!
The Albin Michel bookstore was ready for Gerald Shea’s book signing event on boulevard St Germain. Guests were arriving, the white wine was chilled, books were piled up on a tidy table. But the author was nowhere to be seen. He had been kept at Canal Plus television, for the taping of a top Saturday night broadcast with Thierry Ardisson! … Read More
Literary dinner in London
I was surprised and flattered to be summoned to London for a dinner party at Quo Vadis, in honor of Polly Samson, whose latest novel « The Kindness » (Bloomsbury) is on display in every book store. New York book publicist Lynn Goldberg, had asked me with her usual charm, to join an incredibly distinguished group of writers and … Read More