Celebrating Best-Selling French Authors at the French Book Festival
In partnership with the Consulat General of France in Boston, the French Library, and the Boston Book Festival, with the support of Institut français of Paris.
At the French Book Festival, six prominent French authors brought their diverse talents and perspectives to the stage, engaging audiences with a variety of discussions, workshops, and book presentations.
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, the internationally acclaimed playwright and novelist, captivated the crowd with a reading from his latest book Paradises Lost, discussing his vast research into humanity’s history and its philosophical underpinnings.
Meanwhile, Marc Levy, the world’s most widely read French author, shared the secrets behind his bestselling novels, including The Symphony of Monsters, in a lively discussion on the political dimensions of young adult fantasy.
Victor Dixen, a master of speculative fiction, delved into the political context of fantasy literature, discussing his Vampyria series with fellow author Kass Morgan.
Mohamed Amer Meziane, a philosopher and author of The States of the Earth, presented a thought-provoking analysis of Western modernity’s colonial and environmental impact.
Lastly, Elisa Géhin, a celebrated children’s book illustrator, led creative workshops for young audiences, using vibrant colors and water to explore the transformative power of art. Together, these authors enriched the festival with a wide-ranging exploration of fiction, philosophy, and creative expression.
Learn more about the participating authors below!
Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
With appearances at universities, bookstores, and more! October 24 to October 26
A member of the Goncourt Academy, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt has become in two decades one of the most widely read and performed French-language authors in the world. Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, his plays have won several Molières and the French Academy’s Grand Prix du Théâtre. His books have been translated into 48 languages, and more than 50 countries regularly perform his plays. According to recent statistics, he is today the most studied author in secondary schools. His plays, which constantly enjoy new productions and revivals in state and private theaters across the world, now belong to the contemporary repertory.
Creative Writing Workshop. October 24, at Brown University, Providence RI
Not open to the public.
Reading, Discussion and Signing Session October 24, 5:00 – 5:45 pm at Brown Bookstore, Providence RI.
Open to the public.
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt presented and read from his latest translated book, Paradises Lost, followed by a discussion, Q&A session, and a book signing for the public.
Paradises Lost October 26, 1:30 – 3:00 pm at the First Lutheran Church, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt presented his latest book published in the United States, Paradises Lost, where he combined his religious, scientific, and philosophical research to propel readers from one world to another, and from pre-history to today. This publication is the first installment of Schmitt’s monumental project of recounting the history of humanity, the fruits of more than thirty years of research. Moderated by Stéphanie Ravillon, Senior Lecturer in French and Francophone Studies at Brown University.
The discussion was followed by a Q&A and signing sessions.
Marc Levy
With appearances at universities and at the French Library October 25 to October 26
Author of 25 novels translated into 50 languages, Levy is the most widely read French writer in the world, with over 50 million copies sold, all of them bestsellers in France from the moment they were published.
At the age of 18, Marc Levy joined the Red Cross for six years, then set up a company specializing in computer-generated images in France and the United States, before running an architecture firm. At the age of 37, he wrote Et si c’était vrai, published in 2000, which met with immediate success and was adapted for the screen by Steven Spielberg under the title Just Like Heaven in 2005.
Writing Masterclass October 25, at Tufts University, Boston MA.
Not open to the public.
Marc Levy: Writing Secrets October 26, 11:00 – 12:30 pm at the French Library, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
Marc Levy explained the secret of his unique ability to tell compelling stories. His latest book translated in English, The Symphony of Monsters, is an unforgettable story of courage, resilience, and love. He discussed his work with internationally renowned media expert and journalist Jean Christian Agid for a horizon-expanding debate on novel writing and more.
The intervention was followed by a Q&A and signing sessions.
Colombe Schneck
With appearances at universities, bookstores, and at the French Library October 24 to October 26
A documentary film director, journalist, and the author of twelve books of fiction and nonfiction, Colombe Schneck has received prizes from the Académie française, Madame Figaro, and the Société des gens de Lettres. The recipient of a scholarship from the Villa Medici in Rome as well as a Stendhal grant from the Institut français, she was born and educated in Paris, where she still lives.
She is also part of Villa Albertine’s Author on Tour program.
Creative Writing Masterclass October 24, at Boston College, Chestnut Hill MA.
Not open to the public.
Creative Writing Masterclass October 25, at Bunker Hill Community College, Chelsea MA.
Not open to the public.
In conversation with Alysia Abbott. October 25, 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Newtonville Books, Newton MA.
Open to the public.
Colombe Schneck was in conversation with Alysia Abbott, writer, teacher, speaker, and author of the acclaimed memoir FAIRYLAND: A Memoir of My Father.
The intervention was followed by a Q&A and signing sessions.
Swimming in Paris: Sexuality, Abortion, Friendship, and Femininity October 26, 12:30 – 2:00 pm at the French Library, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
Written in a style that evokes Annie Ernaux’s precise and intimate work on social milieu and sexuality, Swimming in Paris is a decades-long exploration of the complicated relationships that women so often have with their own bodies. Whether depicting a teenage abortion in the midst of a privileged Parisian upbringing, or unexpected romances, Schneck’s prose exudes an unwavering elegance and intimacy. In Pamela Druckerman’s words, “Schneck offers a periscopic view into bourgeois Paris and captures the terror and truth of love like only a Frenchwoman can.”
During the discussion, Schneck spoke about this powerful meditation on a lifelong journey to reclaim the female body. She was interviewed by Shuchi Sarawsat, writer, journalist and founder of the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith, a reading series focused on stories of migration, the intersection of politics & literature. Moderated by writer and editor Shuchi Sarawsat.
The discussion was followed by a Q&A and signing sessions.
Victor Dixen
With appearances at universities, high-schools, and at the French Library October 24 to October 26
Two-time winner of the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire, the most prestigious French literary award for speculative fiction, Victor Dixen stands at the forefront of French fantasy and science fiction. He is the author of 19 novels, 6 graphic novels and numerous short stories. His acclaimed series include Animale, Phobos, Cogito, Extincta, and Vampyria. A nomadic writer, he has lived in Paris, Dublin, Singapore, New York, and now Washington, DC, drawing inspiration from the promises of the future as much as the ghosts of the past. Victor Dixen’s books have been translated into 12 languages, with major international publishers.
Guest lecturer in the French department at Boston University. October 24, at Boston University, Boston MA.
Not open to the public.
Le Règne Animal: Screening & Discussion. October 24, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Boston University, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
The public could join students from Boston University’s French department to attend a screening of the acclaimed French film Le Règne Animal, as part of the Albertine Cinémathèque festival. After the screening, the author discussed the film in conversation with one of the department’s professors.
Victor Dixen with Kass Morgan: Vampires, Witches, and Revolutions: Writing Fantasy in the Age of Polarized Politics. October 26, 2:00 – 3:30 pm at the French Library, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
Bestselling authors Victor Dixen and Kass Morgan discussed young adult fantasy novels in light of the political context and significance. With this in mind, Dixen presented the second volume of his Vampyria America saga, The Court of Miracles, telling the story of the vampire King Louis XIV, determined to protect his empire at any cost in spite of a mysterious renegade vampire. Kass Morgan, author of The 100, joined him for a lively dialogue, bringing an in-depth perspective on the political dimension of vampire figures.
Moderated by Jenai Engelhard, Lecturer, Rhetoric at Boston University.
The discussion was followed by a Q&A and signing sessions.
Mohamed Amer Meziane is a philosopher, performer, and professor at Brown University, who taught at Columbia University for four years. He is the author of The States of the Earth: An Ecological and Racial History of Secularization which won the Albertine Prize for non-fiction in 2023. His second book is entitled, At the Edge of the Worlds: Towards a Metaphysical Anthropology.
Why Are We disenchanted? October 26, 10:00 – 11:30 am at the French Library, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
Mohamed Amer Meziane presented his book The States of the Earth, offering a rereading of the history of Western modernity during the 19th century through the lenses of both its colonial matrix and its environmental consequences. In a world where material technology was considered divine, religious and secular forces both tried to achieve Heaven on Earth by destroying Earth itself. He was interviewed by Marisa Katz, a New York Times journalist, and there was an opportunity for an audience Q&A.
“Young philosopher and historian Mohamed Amer Meziane argues that Europe, and France specifically, give themselves credit for having modernized during the 19th century. But this was the period of France’s imperial adventures in the Muslim world, which – not coincidentally, he powerfully argues — racialized the concept of ‘religiosity,’ rendering it ‘uncivilized.”
— New York Times
Elisa Géhin
With appearances at schools and the Museum of Science, Boston October 31 to November 2
A renowned illustrator of children’s books, Elisa Géhin works in full color, playing with shapes, gravity, and ordinary objects. In addition to her many published books, she has extensive experience in hosting workshops on themes ranging from the environment to architecture. Silk-screen printing, collages, paintings, and stamp engravings are just some of the mediums she uses to pass on her art to youngsters.
Children’s Workshops. October 31, at an American Public School, MA.
Not open to the public.
Children’s Workshops. November 1, at Ecole Française de Boston, Watertown MA.
Not open to the public.
Children’s Workshops November 2, 1:30 – 3:30 pm at the Museum of Science, Boston MA.
Open to the public.
On a roll of paper unrolled like a tapestry, children tried out pencils and their bright colors. They were then invited to test the plasticity of the tool by adding water. Puddles and drips followed the drawing. The vividness of the colors was put to the test of water and its transparency.
