Philippe Besson

Philippe Besson (born January 29, 1967 in Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, Charente) is a French writer.^[1]

Life

In 1999, Besson, a law graduate, was inspired to write his first novel, En l'absence des hommes while reading of accounts of ex-serviceman during the First World War.^[2] The novel, with its daring inclusion of Marcel Proust as a central character, won the Emmanuel-Roblès prize. Besson's second novel, Son Frère was shortlisted for the Prix Femina, and adapted for cinema by Patrice Chéreau in 2003.^[3] The film was well received and won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.^[4]

Works

• En l'absence des hommes, Éditions Julliard, 2001, ISBN 9782260015642
  • In the Absence of Men, Heinemann 2003, translated by Frank Wynne, Carroll & Graf, 2003, ISBN 978-0-7867-1161-1
• Son frère, Julliard, 2001, ISBN 978-2-260-01586-4
  • His Brother translated by Frank Wynne, Heinemann, 2004, ISBN 978-0-434-01211-4
• L'arrière saison, Julliard, 2002, ISBN 978-2-260-01610-6 (inspired by Edward Hopper's painting Nighthawks)
• Un garçon d'Italie, Julliard, 2003, ISBN 978-2-260-01642-7 (which was shortllistedf for both the Prix Goncourt and the Prix Médicis.)
• Les Jours fragiles, Julliard, 2004, ISBN 978-2-260-01641-0 (focussing on the last days of Rimbaud, it has been optioned by François Dupeyron for the cinema.)
• Un instant d'abandon: roman, Julliard, 2005, ISBN 978-2-260-01681-6
• Se résoudre aux adieux: roman, Julliard, 2007, ISBN 978-2-260-01726-4
  • The Accidental Man

References

1. http://www.culturesfrance.com/adpf-publi/fiction/FF02_BESSON_ANG.pdf
2. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france_159/label-france_2554/label-france-issues_2555/label-france-no.-64_3965/literature_3981/contemporary-writers_3986/the-world-according-to-philippe-besson_5394.html
3. http://www.fandango.com/philippebesson/filmography/p132053
4. http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/2003/juryLongFilm.html

External links

• Author's website
• "Review: In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson", Speak its name