''Philippe Besson'' (born 29 January 1967 in

Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire () is a commune in the Charente department, Southwestern France. The commune was formed in 1973 by the merger of the former communes Barbezieux and Saint-Hilaire.Charente Charente (; Saintongese: ''Chérente''; oc, Charanta ) is a department in the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, south western France. It is named after the river Charente, the most important and longest river in the department, an ...

) is a French

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

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-servicemen during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. The novel, with its daring inclusion of

Marcel Proust Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (; ; 10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist, critic, and essayist who wrote the monumental novel ''In Search of Lost Time'' (''À la recherche du temps perdu''; with the previous Eng ...

as a central character, won the

Prix Emmanuel Roblès The Prix Emmanuel Roblès, readers's prize of Blois, is a French literary award established in 1990 whose aim is to reward an author of first novel. It is baptized as a tribute to writer Emmanuel Robles. High school students, students, librarians, ...

. Besson's second novel, ''Son Frère'' was shortlisted for the

Prix Femina The Prix Femina is a French literary prize created in 1904 by 22 writers for the magazine '' La Vie heureuse'' (today known as '' Femina''). The prize is decided each year by an exclusively female jury. They reward French-language works written ...

, and adapted for cinema by

Patrice Chéreau Patrice Chéreau (; 2 November 1944 – 7 October 2013) was a French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor and producer. In France he is best known for his work for the theatre, internationally for his films '' La Reine Margot'' and ...

in 2003. The film was well received and won the

Silver Bear The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

at the

Berlin Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

Works

*''En l'absence des hommes'',

Éditions Julliard Éditions Julliard is a French publishing house. It was founded in 1942 by René Julliard. Julliard was known as a discoverer and publisher of talents, in particular Françoise Sagan and Jean d'Ormesson. After Julliard's death in July 1962, the ...

, 2001, **''In the Absence of Men'', Heinemann 2003, translated by

Frank Wynne Frank Wynne (born 1962) is an Irish literary translator and writer. Born in County Sligo in the west of Ireland, he worked as a comics editor at Fleetway and later at comic magazine ''Deadline''. He worked for a time at AOL before becoming a l ...

, Carroll & Graf, 2003, *'' Son frère'', Julliard, 2001, **'' His Brother'' translated by Frank Wynne, Heinemann, 2004, * ''L'arrière saison'', Julliard, 2002, (inspired by

Edward Hopper Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American realist painter and printmaker. While he is widely known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching. Hopper created subdued drama ...

's painting Nighthawks) * ''Un garçon d'Italie'', Julliard, 2003, (which was shortlisted for both the

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 ...

and the Prix Médicis.) * ''Les Jours fragiles'', Julliard, 2004, (focussing on the last days of Rimbaud, it has been optioned by François Dupeyron for the cinema.) * ''Un instant d'abandon: roman'', Julliard, 2005, * ''Se résoudre aux adieux: roman'', Julliard, 2007, **''The Accidental Man'' *'' Arrête avec tes mensonges'',

, 2017, **''Lie with Me'' translated by

Molly Ringwald Molly Kathleen Ringwald (born February 18, 1968) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and author. She was cast in her first major role as Molly in the NBC sitcom '' The Facts of Life'' (1979–80) after a casting director saw her playing an or ...

Scribner Scribner may refer to: Media * Charles Scribner's Sons, also known as Scribner or Scribner's, New York City publisher * ''Scribner's Magazine'', pictorial published from 1887–1939 by Charles Scribner's Sons, then merged with the ''Commentator ...

, 2019, * ''Un Personnage de Roman - Macron par Besson'', French and European Publications Inc, 2017,

References

External links

"Review: In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson"
''Speak its name'' 1967 births Bisexual writers Living people People from Charente Bisexual men French LGBT novelists 21st-century French novelists French male novelists Prix Emmanuel Roblès recipients 21st-century French male writers {{France-novelist-20thC-stub