Agnès Desarthe ( Naouri; born 3 May 1966) is a French novelist, children's writer and translator.

Biography

Desarthe was born 3 May 1966 in Paris. She is the daughter of the pediatrician and writer Aldo Naouri. She is married to filmmaker , son of actor . They have four children. Her brother is the opera singer

Laurent Naouri Laurent Naouri, Chevalier L.H. (born May 23, 1964) is a French bass-baritone. Initially beginning his education at the École Centrale de Lyon, Naouri decided to concentrate on opera in 1986 and continued his musical studies at the Guildhall S ...

. She studied English literature. She started her career as a translator. In 1992, she published her first novel. She became a prolific writer of children's books. In 1996 she was awarded the

Prix du Livre Inter The Prix du Livre Inter is a prize for best French novel of the year. It is awarded by the radio channel France Inter France Inter () is a major French public radio channel and part of Radio France. It is a " generalist" station, aiming to prov ...

for her second novel ''Un secret sans importance''. Her most successful novel, ''Chez Moi'' (french: Mangez-moi, it=y, link=no), has been translated into over 15 languages. One of her more recent novels, ''Dans la nuit brune'', received the

Prix Renaudot des lycéens The Prix Théophraste-Renaudot or Prix Renaudot () is a French literary award. History The prize was created in 1926 by ten art critics awaiting the results of deliberation of the jury of the Prix Goncourt. While not officially related to the ...

in 2010. Her novels are published in France by

Éditions de l'Olivier The Éditions de l'Olivier are a French publishing house created by Olivier Cohen and located 96 Boulevard du Montparnasse, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. Established in 1991, this company specializes in French and foreign literature. Ext ...

and in the UK by Portobello Books.

Awards and honours

* 1996:

for ''Un secret sans importance'' * 2007: Prix Maurice-Edgar Coindreau for ''Les papiers de Puttermesser'' (translation of ''The Puttermesser Papers'' by

Cynthia Ozick Cynthia Ozick (born April 17, 1928) is an American short story writer, novelist, and essayist. Biography Cynthia Ozick was born in New York City, the second of two children. She moved to the Bronx with her Belarusian-Jewish parents from Hlusk, ...

) * 2007: Prix Laure Bataillon for ''Les papiers de Puttermesser'' (translation of ''The Puttermesser Papers'' by

) * 2009: Prix Marcel Pagnol for ''Le Remplaçant'' * 2009: Prix du roman Version Femina - Virgin Megastore for ''Le Remplaçant'' * 2010:

for ''Dans la nuit brune'' * 2012: Prix littéraire 30 millions d'amis ( Goncourt des animaux) for ''Une partie de chasse'' * 2014: Prix Anna-de-Noailles of the

Académie Française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...

for ''Comment j'ai appris à lire'' * 2015: Prix littéraire du ''Monde'' for ''Ce cœur changeant'' * 2015:

Chevalier of the Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

Nominations

* 2002:

Independent Foreign Fiction Prize The ''Independent'' Foreign Fiction Prize (1990–2015) was a British literary award. It was inaugurated by British newspaper ''The Independent'' to honour contemporary fiction in translation in the United Kingdom. The award was first launched i ...

shortlist for ''Five Photos of My Wife'' * 2002:

Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Prize The Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Literary Prize is an annual British literary prize inaugurated in 1977. It is named after the host ''Jewish Quarterly'' and the prize's founder Harold Hyam Wingate. The award recognises Jewish and non-Jewish writers r ...

shortlist for ''Five Photos of My Wife'' * 2003:

International Dublin Literary Award The International Dublin Literary Award ( ga, Duais Liteartha Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Chliath), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. ...

longlist for ''Five Photos of My Wife'' * 2021:

Prix Goncourt The Prix Goncourt (french: Le prix Goncourt, , ''The Goncourt Prize'') is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". The prize carries a symbolic reward o ...

second selection for ''L'éternel fiancé''

Bibliography

Novels

* ''Quelques minutes de bonheur absolu''.

. 1993 * ''Un secret sans importance''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 1996 * ''Cinq photos de ma femme''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 1998 ** * ''Les bonnes intentions''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2000 ** * ''Le principe de Frédelle''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2003 * ''Mangez-moi''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2006 ** * ''Le Remplaçant''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2009 * ''Dans la nuit brune''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2010 ** * ''Une partie de chasse''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2012 ** * ''Ce cœur changeant''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2015 * ''La Chance de leur vie''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2018 * ''L'éternel fiancé''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2021

Children's novels

* ''Je ne t'aime pas, Paulus''. L'École des loisirs. 1992 * ''Abo, le minable homme des neiges''.illustrations by

Claude Boujon Claude may refer to: __NOTOC__ People and fictional characters * Claude (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Claude (surname), a list of people * Claude Lorrain (c. 1600–1682), French landscape painter, draughtsman and etch ...

. L'École des loisirs. 1992 * ''Les Peurs de Conception''. L'École des loisirs. 1992 * ''La Fête des pères''. L'École des loisirs. 1992 * ''Le Mariage de Simon''. illustrations by

Anaïs Vaugelade Anaïs, Anais or ANAIS may refer to: People *Anaïs (given name), a female given name, especially popular in France and Greece (including a list of people with the name) *Anaïs (singer) (born 1965), French singer * Anaís (born 1984), Dominican ...

. L'École des loisirs. 1992 * ''Le Roi Ferdinand''. L'École des loisirs. 1992 * ''Dur de dur''. L'École des loisirs. 1993 * ''La Femme du bouc émissaire''. illustrations by

Willi Glasauer Willi Glasauer (born 9 December 1938 in Stříbro) is a German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German languag ...

. L'École des loisirs. 1993 * ''Benjamin, héros solitaire''. L'École des loisirs. 1994 * ''Tout ce qu'on ne dit pas''. L'École des loisirs. 1995 * ''Poète maudit''. L'École des loisirs. 1995 * ''L'Expédition''. illustrations by Willi Glasauer. L'École des loisirs. 1995 * ''Je manque d'assurance''. L'École des loisirs. 1997 * ''Les pieds de Philomène''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 1997 * ''Les grandes questions''. L'École des loisirs. 1999 * ''Les trois vœux de l'archiduchesse''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2000 * ''Petit prince Pouf''. illustrations by

Claude Ponti Claude Ponticelli, known as Claude Ponti, was born on November 22, 1948, in Lunéville (Lorraine, France). He is a children's author and illustrator. His books are famous for the fanciful graphic design, but also for the imaginative and poetic sto ...

. L'École des loisirs. 2002 * ''Le monde d'à-côté''. L'École des loisirs. 2002 * ''À deux c'est mieux''. L'École des loisirs. 2004 * ''Comment j'ai changé ma vie''. L'École des loisirs. 2004 * ''Igor le labrador''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2004 * ''C'est qui le plus beau ?''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2005 * ''Je ne t'aime toujours pas, Paulus''. L'École des loisirs. 2005 * ''Les frères chats''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2005 * ''La Cinquième saison''. L'École des loisirs. 2006 * ''Je veux être un cheval''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2006 * ''L'histoire des Carnets de Lineke''. L'École de Loisirs. 2007 * ''La plus belle fille du monde''. L'École de Loisirs. 2009 * ''Mission impossible''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2009 * ''Dingo et le sens de la vie''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2012 * ''Le Poulet fermier''. illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2013 * ''Mes animaux'' (anthology). illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade. L'École des loisirs. 2014

Short fiction

* *

Plays

* ''Les Chevaliers'' * ''Le Kit''

Nonfiction

* ''V.W. Le mélange des genres''. co-written with

Geneviève Brisac Geneviève Brisac (born 18 October 1951, in Paris) is a French writer. She is the winner of the Prix Femina in 1996 for ''Week-end de chasse à la mère'', a novel translated in English as ''Losing Eugenio'' (2000) and referred to in ''The New Yo ...

. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2004; book about

Virginia Woolf Adeline Virginia Woolf (; ; 25 January 1882 28 March 1941) was an English writer, considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Woolf was born i ...

* ''Lois Lowry''. L'École des loisirs. 2011; children's book about

Lois Lowry Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of several books for children and young adults, including ''The Giver Quartet,'' ''Number the Stars'', and ''Rabble Starkey.'' She is known for writing a ...

* ''Comment j'ai appris à lire''. Éditions Stock. 2013 * ''Le roi René''. Éditions Odile Jacob. 2016; biography of

René Urtreger René Urtreger (born July 6, 1934) is a French bebop pianist. Early life Urtreger was born in Paris and began his piano studies at the age of four, studying privately first, and then at the Conservatory. He studied with an orientation toward jaz ...

* ''Maurice Sendak''. co-written with Béatrice Michielsen and

Bernard Noël Bernard Noël (19 November 1930 – 13 April 2021) was a French writer and poet. He received the ''Grand Prix national de la poésie'' (National Grand Prize of Poetry) in 1992 and the ''Prix Robert Ganzo'' (Robert Ganzo Prize) in 2010. Biography ...

. L'École des loisirs. 2016; children's book about

Maurice Sendak Maurice Bernard Sendak (; June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. He became most widely known for his book ''Where the Wild Things Are'', first published in 1963.Turan, Kenneth (October 16, 200 ...

Prefaces

. ''Journal intégral, 1915-1941''. collection La Cosmopolite. Éditions Stock. 2008; translated by Marie-Ange Dutartre and Colette-Marie Huet

Translations

Aimee Bender Aimee Bender (born June 28, 1969) is an American novelist and short story writer, known for her surreal stories and characters. She is a 2011 recipient of the Alex Awards. Biography Born to a Jewish family, Bender received her undergraduate deg ...

: ''L'ombre de moi-même''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2001 * Aimee Bender: ''Des créatures obstinées''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2007 *

Alice Thomas Ellis Alice Thomas Ellis (born Ann Margaret Lindholm, 9 September 1932 – 8 March 2005) was an English writer and essayist born in Liverpool. She wrote numerous novels and some non-fiction, including cookery books. Life Ellis was born in Liverpool to ...

: ''Les habits neufs de Margaret''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 1993 * Alice Thomas Ellis: ''Les ivresses de Madame Monro''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 1993 * Alice Thomas Ellis: ''Les égarements de Lili''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 1994 * Alice Thomas Ellis: ''Les oiseaux du ciel''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 1995 *

Anne Fine Anne Fine OBE FRSL (born 7 December 1947) is an English writer. Although best known for children's books, she also writes for adults. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and she was appointed an OBE in 2003. Fine has written mor ...

: ''Le jeu des sept familles''. L'École des loisirs. 1995 * Anne Fine: ''Comment écrire comme un cochon''. L'École des loisirs. 1997 * Anne Fine: ''Billy le transi''. L'École des loisirs. 2006 *

Jean Fritz Jean Guttery Fritz (November 16, 1915 – May 14, 2017) was an American children's writer best known for American biography and history. She won the Children's Legacy Literature Award for her career contribution to American children's literature ...

: ''La longue marche: Les 9000 kilomètres qui ont amené Mao au pouvoir. L'École des loisirs. 1990 *

Mary Downing Hahn Mary Downing Hahn (born December 9, 1937) is an American writer of young adult novels and a former school librarian. She is known for books such as ''Stepping On The Cracks'' and ''Wait Till Helen Comes''. She published her first book in 1979 and ...

: ''La saison des méduses''. L'École des loisirs. 1996 *

Polly Horvath Polly Horvath (born 30 January 1957) is an American-Canadian author of novels for children and young adults. She won the 2003 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature for ''The Canning Season'', published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ...

: ''Une fille intrépide''. L'École des loisirs. 2010 *

M.E. Kerr Marijane Agnes Meaker (May 27, 1927 – November 21, 2022) was an American writer who, along with Tereska Torrès, Tereska Torres, was credited with launching the lesbian pulp fiction genre, the only accessible novels on that theme in the 1950s. ...

: ''Est-ce bien vous, Miss Blue ?''. L'École des loisirs. 1990 *

Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...

: ''Brundibar''. illustrations by

. L'École des loisirs. 2005 * Elena Lappin: ''La marche nuptiale''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2000 * Elena Lappin: ''Le nez''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2002 *

Gail Carson Levine Gail Carson Levine (born September 17, 1947) is an American author of young adult books. Her second novel, ''Ella Enchanted'', received a Newbery Honor in 1998.

: ''Belle comme le jour''. L'École des loisirs. 2008 *

Leo Lionni Leo Lionni (May 5, 1910 – October 11, 1999) was an Italian-American writer and illustrator of children's books. Born in the Netherlands, he moved to Italy and lived there before moving to the United States in 1939, where he worked as an art dire ...

: ''Monsieur MacSouris''. L'École des loisirs. 1993 *

: ''Anastasia, demande à ton psy !''. L'École des loisirs. 1990 * Lois Lowry: ''Compte les étoiles''. L'École des loisirs. 1990 * Lois Lowry: ''Anastasia, à votre service''. L'École des loisirs. 1991 * Lois Lowry: ''La centième chose que j'aime chez toi, Caroline''. L'École des loisirs. 1991 * Lois Lowry: ''Le passeur''. L'École des loisirs. 1994 * Lois Lowry: ''Anastasia Krupnick''. L'École des loisirs. 1996 * Lois Lowry: ''C'est encore Anastasia''. L'École des loisirs. 1997 * Lois Lowry: ''Anastasia connaît la réponse''. L'École des loisirs. 1999 * Lois Lowry: ''Toute la vérité sur Sam''. L'École des loisirs. 1999 * Lois Lowry: ''Anastasia avec conviction''. L'École des loisirs. 2002 * Lois Lowry: ''Le nom de code d'Anastasia''. L'École des loisirs. 2004 * Lois Lowry: ''Messager''. L'École des loisirs. 2004 * Lois Lowry: ''Une carrière de rêve pour Anastasia ''. L'École des loisirs. 2005 * Lois Lowry: ''Le bal d'anniversaire''. L'École des loisirs. 2011 *

Betty MacDonald Betty MacDonald (born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard; March 26, 1907 – February 7, 1958) was an American author who specialized in humorous autobiographical tales, and is best known for her book ''The Egg and I''. She also wrote the ''Mrs. Piggle- ...

: ''Madame Bigote-Gigote''. L'École des loisirs. 1991 * Betty MacDonald: ''Madame Bigote-Gigote a plus d'un tour dans son sac''. L'École des loisirs. 1991 *

Patricia MacLachlan Patricia Marie MacLachlan ( Pritzkau; March 3, 1938 – March 31, 2022) was an American children's writer. She was noted for her novel ''Sarah, Plain and Tall'', which won the 1986 Newbery Medal. Early life MacLachlan was born in Cheyenne, Wyom ...

: ''Nous sommes tous sa famille''. L'École des loisirs. 1994 * James Marshall: ''Pieds de cochons''. illustrations by Maurice Sendak. L'École des loisirs. 2001 *

Jay McInerney John Barrett "Jay" McInerney Jr. (; born January 13, 1955) is an American novelist, screenwriter, editor, and columnist. His novels include '' Bright Lights, Big City'', ''Ransom'', '' Story of My Life'', ''Brightness Falls'', and ''The Last of ...

: ''La belle vie''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2007 * Jay McInerney: ''Moi tout craché''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2009 *

Alice Munro Alice Ann Munro (; ; born 10 July 1931) is a Canadian short story writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013. Munro's work has been described as revolutionizing the architecture of short stories, especially in its tendency to move f ...

: ''Un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout''. Éditions Points. 2019 *

Anaïs Nin Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell (February 11, 1903 – January 14, 1977; , ) was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, Nin was the d ...

: ''L'intemporalité perdue et autres nouvelles''. NiL. 2020 *

: ''Les papiers de Puttermesser''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2007 * Cynthia Ozick: ''Corps étrangers''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2012 * Louise Plummer: ''Je m'appelle Susan''. L'École des loisirs. 1993 *

Chaim Potok Chaim Potok (February 17, 1929 – July 23, 2002) was an American author and rabbi. His first book ''The Chosen'' (1967), was listed on ''The New York Times’'' best seller list for 39 weeks and sold more than 3,400,000 copies. Biography H ...

: ''L'arbre du ciel''. L'École des loisirs. 2000 * Chaim Potok: ''Le Roi du ciel''. L'École des loisirs. 2001 *

Peggy Rathmann Margaret Crosby "Peggy" Rathmann (born March 4, 1953) is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. Rathmann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota. She studied commercial art, fine a ...

: ''À quatre pattes les bébés sont partis''. L'École des loisirs. 2005 * Peggy Rathmann: ''L'agent Boucle et Gloria''. L'École des loisirs. 2005 *

Emma Richler Emma Richler (born 1961) is a British/Canadian writer. Biography Born in London, England, she is the daughter of author Mordecai Richler."And Emma makes five: Sister Crazy joins `an embarrassment of Richlers'". ''Ottawa Citizen'', 6 May 2001. S ...

: ''Sœur folie''. Éditions de l'Olivier. 2004 *

Louis Sachar Louis Sachar ( ; born March 20, 1954) is an American young-adult mystery-comedy author. He is best known for the ''Wayside School'' series and the novel ''Holes''. ''Holes'' won the 1998 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature

: ''Pas à pas''. L'École des loisirs. 2006 *

Allen Say Allen Say (born James Allen Koichi Moriwaki Seii in 1937; surname written in Japanese) is a Japanese-American writer and illustrator. He is best known for ''Grandfather's Journey'', a children's picture book detailing his grandfather's voyage fr ...

: ''Allison''. L'École des loisirs. 1998 * Allen Say: ''Le bonhomme Kamashibai''. L'École des loisirs. 2006 * Ann Herbert Scott: ''Sur les genoux de maman''. L'École des loisirs. 1993 *

: ''Mini-bibliothèque''. L'École des loisirs. 2010 * Peter Spier: ''Cirque Mariano''. L'École des loisirs. 1992. *

Chris Van Allsburg Chris Van Allsburg (born June 18, 1949) is an American illustrator and writer of children's books. He has won two Caldecott Medals for U.S. picture book illustration, for ''Jumanji'' (1981) and ''The Polar Express'' (1985), both of which he al ...

: ''Le balai magique''. L'École des loisirs. 1993 * Ellen Weiss: ''Le Pôle-Express : Un voyage au pays du Père Noël''. L'École des loisirs. 2004 *

: ''La maison de Carlyle et autres esquisses''.

Mercure de France The was originally a French gazette and literary magazine first published in the 17th century, but after several incarnations has evolved as a publisher, and is now part of the Éditions Gallimard publishing group. The gazette was published f ...

. 2004

References

External links

Agnès Desarthe :: Écrivain
Desarthe's own website with bio and bibliography
Agnès Desarthe Portobello Books
Her UK publisher's authors page

Interview by Tim Martin in ''The Telegraph'' about her new novel ''The Foundling''
The Foundling by Agnès Desarthe, translated by Adriana Hunter
A review by Alfred Hickling in ''The Guardian''
Unnamed Press , Hunting Party
''Hunting Party'' US publisher's page {{DEFAULTSORT:Desarthe, Agnes 1966 births Living people 20th-century French non-fiction writers 21st-century French non-fiction writers French women novelists French feminist writers French children's writers French women children's writers Writers from Paris 20th-century French women writers 21st-century French women writers Prix du Livre Inter winners English–French translators Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Prix Renaudot des lycéens winners