Érik Orsenna is the pen-name of Érik Arnoult (born 22 March 1947) a French politician and
novelist
A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...
. After studying philosophy and political science at the
Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris ("Sciences Po"), Orsenna specialized in economics at the
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...
. He was a close collaborator of
François Mitterrand and held several government positions in the 1980s and 1990s. He is a member (currently on leave) of the
Conseil d'État
In France, the (; Council of State) is a governmental body that acts both as legal adviser to the executive branch and as the supreme court for administrative justice, which is one of the two branches of the French judiciary system. Establ ...
, having been appointed in 1985. He was elected to the
Académie Française
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...
on 28 May 1998. He won the 1990
International Nonino Prize in Italy. For ''Voyage au pays du coton'' he received the second prize of the
Lettre Ulysses Award
The Lettre Ulysses Award for the Art of Reportage has been given annually since 2003 for the best texts in the genre of literary reportage, which must have been first published during the previous two years. The award was initiated by Lettre Intern ...
in 2006.
Bibliography
*1973 ''Loyola's blues'' (Le Seuil)
*1977 ''La Vie comme à Lausanne'' (Le Seuil)
*1977 ''Espace national et déséquilibre monétaire'', under his real name Érik Arnoult (PUF)
*1980 ''Une comédie française'' (Le Seuil)
*1988 ''L'Exposition coloniale'' (Le Seuil)
*1992 ''Besoin d'Afrique'', in collaboration with Éric Fottorino and Christophe Guillemin (Fayard)
*1993 ''Grand amour'' (Le Seuil)
*1996 ''Histoire du monde en neuf guitares'', with Thierry Arnoult (Le Seuil)
*1996 ''Mésaventures du Paradis, mélodie cubaine'', in collaboration with Bernard Matussière (Le Seuil)
*1997 ''Deux étés'' (Fayard)
*1998 ''Longtemps'' (Fayard)
*2000 ''Portrait d'un homme heureux : André Le Nôtre'' (Fayard)
*2001 ''La grammaire est une chanson douce'' (Stock)
*2003 ''Madame Bâ'' (Fayard)
*2004 ''Les Chevaliers du subjonctif'' (Stock)
*2005 ''Dernières nouvelles des oiseaux'' (Stock)
*2005 ''Portrait du Gulf Stream. Éloge des courants : promenade'' (Le Seuil)
*2006 ''Voyage aux pays du coton. Petit précis de mondialisation'' (Fayard)
*2006 ''Salut au Grand Sud'', in collaboration with Isabelle Autissier (Stock)
*2007 ''La Révolte des accents'' (Stock)
*2007 ''Le Facteur et le Cachalot'' (Les Rois Mages)
*2008 ''La Chanson de Charles Quint'' (Stock)
*2008 ''L'Avenir de l'eau'' (Bonjour,Stock)
*2009 ''Et si on dansait ?'' (Stock)
*2010 ''L'Entreprise des Indes'' (Stock)
*2010 ''Princesse Histamine'' (Stock)
External links
*
L'Académie française biography*
Personal website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orsenna, Erik
1947 births
Living people
Writers from Paris
20th-century French novelists
21st-century French novelists
20th-century French politicians
20th-century travel writers
French travel writers
Sciences Po alumni
Alumni of the London School of Economics
Members of the Académie Française
Joseph Kessel Prize recipients
Prix Goncourt winners
Roger Nimier Prize winners
Prix Goncourt des lycéens winners
French male novelists
20th-century French male writers
21st-century French male writers
French male non-fiction writers