Five French contemporary authors
France is a country of literature. The nation is famous for its internationally renowned writers, such as Victor Hugo and Molière. Even today, many French writers are still internationally recognised. Here is a list of five authors you should have a look at!
Guillaume Musso
Guillaume Musso is one of the most popular authors in France and has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide. His work has been translated into 34 languages. His first novel “Et après!” (2004) catapulted him onto the world stage. His writing combines intensity, love and suspense to great effect, captivating the reader with every page.
Yasmina Reza
Yasmina Reza is among France’s best-known writers. Daughter of a Jewish half-Iranian, half-Russian engineer father and a Hungarian violinist mother, Yasmina Reza studied theatre and sociology at the University of Nanterre. In 1987, she received the Molière Award for her play “Conversation after a Funeral” and the same award in 1995 for her masterpiece “Art”. She has penned several internationally lauded plays, including “God of Carnage”. Her plays often feature contemporary characters and reflect their flaws and ridicule.
Leila Slimani
French-Moroccan novelist Leila Slimani was awarded France’s top literary prize, the Goncourt, in 2016 with “Chanson Douce” (“Sweet song” is her novel about a nanny with a deadly agenda). Born in 1981, the novelist and journalist first gained attention with her book “Dans le jardin de l’ogre” (“Ogre Garden”). A great admirer of Simone Veil and influenced by feminist writers such as Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf, Leila Slimani uses her sharp pen to defend the dignity of women.
Edouard Louis
At only 27 years old, Edouard Louis is one of the youngest and most sophisticated authors of this list. With just three novels published so far, he gained a considerable reputation in France and abroad. His work draws inspiration from French sociologists such as Pierre Bourdieu. He combines personal narrative and objective analysis to address the themes of poverty, racism and social exclusion. His first novel, “En finir avec Eddy Bellegueule” is a compassionate, autobiographical narrative that details the hardships of growing up in a rural French factory town. His second novel “Histoire de la violence” showcases the perpetual and cyclical nature of violence in society.
Erik Orsenna
Erik Orsenna is a French writer. After graduating from the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in 1968 and obtaining two doctorates in economics (1975 and 1976), he became a researcher and teacher in international finance. After years of teaching, he became the cultural adviser to President Mitterrand before joining the Conseil d’Etat. He became a writer and is a member of the Academie Française since 1998. He received the Goncourt prize for his book “L’exposition coloniale”.
