Hervé Le Tellier
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Hervé Le Tellier (born 21 April 1957) is a French writer and
linguist Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
, and a member of the international literary group
Oulipo Oulipo (, short for french: Ouvroir de littérature potentielle; roughly translated: ''"workshop of potential literature"'', stylized ''OuLiPo'') is a loose gathering of (mainly) French-speaking writers and mathematicians who seek to create works ...
(Ouvroir de Littérature Potentielle, which translates roughly as "workshop of potential literature"). He is its fourth president. Other notable members have included
Raymond Queneau Raymond Queneau (; 21 February 1903 – 25 October 1976) was a French novelist, poet, critic, editor and co-founder and president of Oulipo ('' Ouvroir de littérature potentielle''), notable for his wit and cynical humour. Biography Queneau wa ...
,
Georges Perec Georges Perec (; 7 March 1936 – 3 March 1982) was a French novelist, filmmaker, documentalist, and essayist. He was a member of the Oulipo group. His father died as a soldier early in the Second World War and his mother was killed in the Holoc ...
,
Italo Calvino Italo Calvino (, also , ;. RAI (circa 1970), retrieved 25 October 2012. 15 October 1923 – 19 September 1985) was an Italian writer and journalist. His best known works include the ''Our Ancestors'' trilogy (1952–1959), the '' Cosmicomi ...
,
Jacques Roubaud Jacques Roubaud (; born 5 December 1932 in Caluire-et-Cuire, Rhône) is a French poet, writer and mathematician Life and career Jacques Roubaud taught Mathematics at University of Paris X Nanterre and Poetry at EHESS. A member of the Oulipo gr ...
,
Jean Lescure Jean Lescure (14 September 1912 – 17 October 2005) was a French poet. Biography Lescure was born in Asnières-sur-Seine. In 1938, he published his first plaquette of poems, "Le voyage immobile", and launched the review "Messages" (two issue ...
and
Harry Mathews Harry Mathews (February 14, 1930 – January 25, 2017) was an American writer, the author of various novels, volumes of poetry and short fiction, and essays. Mathews was also a translator of the French language. Life Born in New York City to an ...
. He won the 2020
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 ...
for ''
The Anomaly ''The Anomaly'' is a 2014 British science fiction action thriller film co-written, directed by and starring Noel Clarke and also featuring Ian Somerhalder and Luke Hemsworth. The film was panned by critics. Plot Ex-soldier Ryan Reeve wakes u ...
''.


Biography

Born in Paris, Le Tellier started his career as a scientific journalist, and joined
Oulipo Oulipo (, short for french: Ouvroir de littérature potentielle; roughly translated: ''"workshop of potential literature"'', stylized ''OuLiPo'') is a loose gathering of (mainly) French-speaking writers and mathematicians who seek to create works ...
in 1992. As an author, he came to general attention in 1998 with the publication in France of his book ''Les amnésiques n'ont rien vécu d'inoubliable'', a collection of one thousand very short sentences all beginning with "Je pense que" (I think that), published in English as ''A Thousand Pearls (for a Thousand Pennies)''. His rather complex novel ''Le voleur de nostalgie'' is a tribute to the Italian writer
Italo Calvino Italo Calvino (, also , ;. RAI (circa 1970), retrieved 25 October 2012. 15 October 1923 – 19 September 1985) was an Italian writer and journalist. His best known works include the ''Our Ancestors'' trilogy (1952–1959), the '' Cosmicomi ...
. He is also one of the participants of ''Papous dans la tête'', the cult literary quiz of ''
France Culture France Culture is a French public radio channel and part of Radio France. Its programming encompasses a wide variety of features on historical, philosophical, sociopolitical, and scientific themes (including debates, discussions, and documentari ...
'', the French cultural radio station. He became in 2002 a daily contributor to the website of the newspaper ''
Le Monde ''Le Monde'' (; ) is a French daily afternoon newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average circulation of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which were sold abroad. It has had its own website si ...
'' with a short satirical chronicle called ''Papier de verre'' (glass paper). He founded, with Frederic Pages and others, the "Association of Friends of Jean-Baptiste Botul" to promote this fictitious philosopher and his school of "Botulism". One of his most recent publication is '' Esthétique de l’Oulipo'' (''The Aesthetics of Oulipo''), a very personal take on literature under constraint, considered from a linguistic perspective. Seven of his books are translated into English, from ''Enough about love'' (
Other Press Other Press is an independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, based in New York City. Founded in 1998 to publish academic and psychoanalytic titles, Other Press has since expanded to publish novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetr ...
) to ''The Sextine Chapel'' (Dalkey Archive).


Award

* 2020:
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 ...
for ''
The Anomaly ''The Anomaly'' is a 2014 British science fiction action thriller film co-written, directed by and starring Noel Clarke and also featuring Ian Somerhalder and Luke Hemsworth. The film was panned by critics. Plot Ex-soldier Ryan Reeve wakes u ...
'' (French: ''L'anomalie''). He is the first member of the Oulipo to win the Goncourt.


Published books

*''Sonates de bar'', short stories, 1991. *''Le Voleur de nostalgie'', novel, 1992. *''La Disparition de Perek'', 1997. *''Les amnésiques n'ont rien vécu d'inoubliable'', 1998 ('' A Thousand Pearls (for a Thousand Pennies)'') *''Inukshuk'', 1998, videograms by Jean-Baptiste Decavèle. *''Joconde jusqu'à cent'', 1999. *''Zindien'', 2000, poetry, illustrated by
Henri Cueco Henri Cueco (19 October 1929 – 13 March 2017) was a French painter, essayist, novelist and radio personality. As a self-taught painter, his work was exhibited internationally. He was the author of several books, including collections of essays a ...
. *''Encyclopaedia Inutilis'', short stories, 2002. *''Joconde sur votre indulgence'', 2002. *''Cités de mémoire'', 2003, ('' Sighted cities'') *''La Chapelle Sextine'', novel, 2005 ('' The Sextine Chapel''). *''Esthétique de l'Oulipo'', essay, 2006. *''Je m'attache très facilement'', novel, 2007 ('' The Intervention of a Good Man''). *''Les Opossums célèbres'', poetry,
portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsXavier Gorce, 2007. * '' Assez parlé d'amour'', novel, Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 2009 ('' Enough About Love''). * '' L'Herbier des villes'', urban haïkaï, Éditions Textuel, 2010. * '' Eléctrico W'', novel, Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 2011. * '' Contes liquides'', written under the nom de plume Jaime Montestrela, short stories, Éditions de l'Attente, 2013, Grand Prix de l'Humour Noir. * '' Demande au muet'', socratic dialogs, Editions Nous, 2014. * '' Moi et François Mitterrand'', 2016, Editions Jean-Claude Lattes. * '' Toutes les familles heureuses'', 2017, Editions Jean-Claude Lattes⁴ (''
All Happy Families "All Happy Families..." is the 56th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the fourth of the show's fifth season. Written by Toni Kalem and directed by Rodrigo García, it originally aired on March 28, 2004. Starring * James Ga ...
''). * '' L'anomalie'', 2020, Éditions Gallimard


In English

* '' The Sextine Chapel'', translated by
Ian Monk Ian Monk (born 1960) is a British writer and translator, based in Paris, France.Ian Monk
Oulipo website (retrieved 29 de ...
,
Dalkey Archive Press Dalkey Archive Press is an American publisher of fiction, poetry, foreign translations and literary criticism specializing in the publication or republication of lesser-known, often avant-garde works. The company has offices in Funks Grove, Il ...
, 2011. * '' A Thousand Pearls (for a Thousand Pennies)'', translated by
Ian Monk Ian Monk (born 1960) is a British writer and translator, based in Paris, France.Ian Monk
Oulipo website (retrieved 29 de ...
,
Dalkey Archive Press Dalkey Archive Press is an American publisher of fiction, poetry, foreign translations and literary criticism specializing in the publication or republication of lesser-known, often avant-garde works. The company has offices in Funks Grove, Il ...
, 2011, . * '' Enough About Love'', translated by
Adriana Hunter Adriana Hunter is a British translator of French literature. She is known for translating over 60 French novels, such as ''Fear and Trembling'' by Amélie Nothomb or ''The Girl Who Played Go'' by Shan Sa. She has been short-listed for the Indepen ...
,
Other Press Other Press is an independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, based in New York City. Founded in 1998 to publish academic and psychoanalytic titles, Other Press has since expanded to publish novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetr ...
, 2011, * '' The Intervention of a Good Man'', translated by
Adriana Hunter Adriana Hunter is a British translator of French literature. She is known for translating over 60 French novels, such as ''Fear and Trembling'' by Amélie Nothomb or ''The Girl Who Played Go'' by Shan Sa. She has been short-listed for the Indepen ...
,
Other Press Other Press is an independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, based in New York City. Founded in 1998 to publish academic and psychoanalytic titles, Other Press has since expanded to publish novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetr ...
, 2011, * '' Electrico W'', translated by
Adriana Hunter Adriana Hunter is a British translator of French literature. She is known for translating over 60 French novels, such as ''Fear and Trembling'' by Amélie Nothomb or ''The Girl Who Played Go'' by Shan Sa. She has been short-listed for the Indepen ...
,
Other Press Other Press is an independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, based in New York City. Founded in 1998 to publish academic and psychoanalytic titles, Other Press has since expanded to publish novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetr ...
, 2013, . For her translation,
Adriana Hunter Adriana Hunter is a British translator of French literature. She is known for translating over 60 French novels, such as ''Fear and Trembling'' by Amélie Nothomb or ''The Girl Who Played Go'' by Shan Sa. She has been short-listed for the Indepen ...
won the 27th Annual Translation Prize founded by the
French-American Foundation The French-American Foundation is a privately funded, non-governmental organization established to promote bilateral relations between France and the United States on topics of importance to the two countries, with a focus on contact between upco ...
and the Florence Gould Foundation. * ''
All happy families "All Happy Families..." is the 56th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the fourth of the show's fifth season. Written by Toni Kalem and directed by Rodrigo García, it originally aired on March 28, 2004. Starring * James Ga ...
'', translated by
Adriana Hunter Adriana Hunter is a British translator of French literature. She is known for translating over 60 French novels, such as ''Fear and Trembling'' by Amélie Nothomb or ''The Girl Who Played Go'' by Shan Sa. She has been short-listed for the Indepen ...
,
Other Press Other Press is an independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, based in New York City. Founded in 1998 to publish academic and psychoanalytic titles, Other Press has since expanded to publish novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetr ...
, March 2019, . * '' Atlas inutilis'', in French '' Contes liquides'', ''"Fluid fables"'', translated by
Cole Swensen Cole Swensen (born 1955, in Kentfield, California) is an American poet, translator, editor, copywriter, and professor. Swensen was awarded a 2006 Guggenheim Fellowship and is the author of more than ten poetry collections and as many translation ...
,
Black Square Editions ''The Brooklyn Rail'' is a publication and platform for the arts, culture, humanities, and politics. The ''Rail'' is based out of Brooklyn, New York. It features in-depth critical essays, fiction, poetry, as well as interviews with artists, criti ...
, 2018, . * ''
The Anomaly ''The Anomaly'' is a 2014 British science fiction action thriller film co-written, directed by and starring Noel Clarke and also featuring Ian Somerhalder and Luke Hemsworth. The film was panned by critics. Plot Ex-soldier Ryan Reeve wakes u ...
'', translated by
Adriana Hunter Adriana Hunter is a British translator of French literature. She is known for translating over 60 French novels, such as ''Fear and Trembling'' by Amélie Nothomb or ''The Girl Who Played Go'' by Shan Sa. She has been short-listed for the Indepen ...
,
Other Press Other Press is an independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, based in New York City. Founded in 1998 to publish academic and psychoanalytic titles, Other Press has since expanded to publish novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetr ...
, November 2021, .


In English, with Oulipo

* '' Oulipo Compendium'',
Atlas Press Atlas Press began publishing in 1983, and specialises in extremist and avant-garde prose writing from the 1890s to the present day. It is the largest publisher in English of books on Surrealism and has an extensive list relating to Dada, Surreal ...
, 1998 * ''Winter Journeys'',
Atlas Press Atlas Press began publishing in 1983, and specialises in extremist and avant-garde prose writing from the 1890s to the present day. It is the largest publisher in English of books on Surrealism and has an extensive list relating to Dada, Surreal ...
, 2000


External links


''Drunken Boat'' page
about Oulipo and excerpts from '' Sighted cities''
''Oulipo Compendium''
excerpts from '' All our thoughts''
Hervé Le Tellier at Oulipo in New York

An interview
for '' Sampsonia Way''
An interview
for ''
Bookforum ''Bookforum'' is an American book review magazine devoted to books and the discussion of literature that was based in New York City, New York. The magazine was founded in 1994 and announced in December of 2022 it would cease publishing after ...
'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Le Tellier, Herve 1957 births Oulipo members Living people Writers from Paris 20th-century French novelists 21st-century French novelists French literary critics French journalists French male novelists French male short story writers 20th-century French short story writers 21st-century French short story writers 20th-century French male writers 21st-century French male writers French male non-fiction writers Prix Goncourt winners