Andrée Chedid
Encyclopedia
Andrée Chedid (20 March 1920 – 6 February 2011) was a French poet
and novelist of Lebanese
descent.
on 20 March 1920. When she was ten, she was sent to a boarding school, where she learned English
and French
. At fourteen, she left for Europe
. She then returned to Cairo to go to the American
university
. Her dream was to become a dancer. She got married to a physician when she was twenty-two, with whom she has two children: Louis Chedid
, now a famous French singer, and Michèle. Her work questions human condition and what links the individual to the world. Her writing seeks to evoke the Orient
, but she focuses more in denouncing the civil war that destroys Lebanon
. She has lived in France
since 1946. Because of this diverse background, her work is truly multicultural. Her first book was written in English: On the Trails of my Fancy. She has commented about her work that it is an eternal quest for humanity.
Andrée Chedid is the grandmother of the French rock star -M-
(Louis Chedid
's son) for whom she has contributed song lyrics including that of Bonoboo on the album Je dis aime
.
She died on 6 February 2011 in Paris
at the age of 90.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novelist of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent.
Life
Chedid was born in CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
on 20 March 1920. When she was ten, she was sent to a boarding school, where she learned English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. At fourteen, she left for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. She then returned to Cairo to go to the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. Her dream was to become a dancer. She got married to a physician when she was twenty-two, with whom she has two children: Louis Chedid
Louis Chedid
Louis Chedid is a French singer-songwriter of Lebanese origin.-Biography:Louis Chedid is the son of the writer Andrée Chedid and the father of Matthieu Chedid ....
, now a famous French singer, and Michèle. Her work questions human condition and what links the individual to the world. Her writing seeks to evoke the Orient
The Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
, but she focuses more in denouncing the civil war that destroys Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. She has lived in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1946. Because of this diverse background, her work is truly multicultural. Her first book was written in English: On the Trails of my Fancy. She has commented about her work that it is an eternal quest for humanity.
Andrée Chedid is the grandmother of the French rock star -M-
Matthieu Chedid
Matthieu Chedid is a French rock singer-songwriter and guitar player.-Biography:...
(Louis Chedid
Louis Chedid
Louis Chedid is a French singer-songwriter of Lebanese origin.-Biography:Louis Chedid is the son of the writer Andrée Chedid and the father of Matthieu Chedid ....
's son) for whom she has contributed song lyrics including that of Bonoboo on the album Je dis aime
Je dis aime
Je dis aime is the second studio album by French singer-song-writer Matthieu Chedid in his persona as -M-, described by reviewers as a "conceptual icon to rival Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane". The album manages to take a remarkable variety of musical directions and pull them together...
.
She died on 6 February 2011 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the age of 90.
Awards and Honours
- 1976 Mallarmé prizeMallarmé prizeThe Mallarmé prize is a poetry prize awarded each year by the Académie Mallarmé to a French speaking poet....
- 1979 Prix Goncourt de la Nouvelle, Le Corps et le Temps
- 2002 Prix Goncourt de la Poésie
- 2009 Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
Works
- À la mort, à la vie: nouvelles. Paris: Flammarion, 1992.
- L'Autre: roman. ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
: Flammarion, 1969. - Cavernes et soleils: poésie. Paris: Flammarion, 1979.
- Cérémonial de la violence. Paris: Flammarion, 1976.
- La Cité fertile: roman. Paris: Flammarion, 1972.
- Le Dernier candidat. Paris: Éditions théâtrales Art et comédie, 1998
- Le Message. Paris: Éditions Flammarion, 2000
- L'Enfant multiple. Paris: Flammarion, 1989.
- La Maison Sans Racine. Paris: Flammarion, 1985.
- Le Sommeil délivré. Paris: Flammarion, 1952.
- Le Grand Boulevard.Paris :Flammarion,1996