Patrick Modiano
Encyclopedia
Patrick Modiano is a French
novelist born 30 July 1945 in Boulogne-Billancourt
of a father of Jewish Italian origins and a Belgian mother, Louisa Colpijn (actress). He is a winner of the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française
in 1972, the Prix Goncourt
in 1978 for his novel Rue des boutiques obscures
. Modiano was honored with the prestigious 2010 Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
by the Institut de France
for his lifetime achievement.
during World War II
and began their relationship in semi-clandestinity. Modiano's childhood took place in a unique atmosphere: between the absence of his father—of which he heard many troubled stories—and his mother's frequent tours, he had to complete his secondary education by government aid. This brought him closer to his brother, Rudy, who died of a disease at age 10 (the works of Patrick Modiano from 1967 to 1982 are dedicated to him). This disappearance announced the end of the author's childhood, who continued to hold a marked nostalgia for this period.
Modiano studied at the École du Montcel primary school in Jouy-en-Josas
, at the Collège Saint-Joseph de Thônes
in Haute-Savoie
, and then at the Lycée Henri-IV high school in Paris
. While he was at Henri-IV, he took geometry lessons from writer Raymond Queneau
, who was a friend of Modiano's mother. He received his baccalaureate at Annecy
but didn't proceed with his higher education.
His meeting with Queneau, the author of Zazie dans le métro, was crucial. Modiano was introduced to the literary world by Queneau, and this gave him the opportunity to attend a cocktail party given by publishing house Éditions Gallimard
. He published his first novel, La Place de l’Étoile
, with them in 1968, after having read the manuscript to Raymond Queneau. Starting that year, he did nothing but write.
The 2010 release of the German translation of La Place de l'Étoile won Modiano the German Preis der SWR-Bestenliste (Prize of the Southwest Radio Best-of List) from the Südwestrundfunk
radio station, which hails the book as a major Post-Holocaust
work. The 42-year delay of the book's translation to German — surprising in that most of Modiano's works are translated to that language — is due to its highly controversial and at times satirically antisemitic content. La Place de l'Étoile has not yet been published in English.
In 1973, Modiano co-wrote the screenplay of Lacombe Lucien
, a movie directed by Louis Malle
which focuses on the involvement of a boy in the "French Gestapo", after being refused to join the French Resistance
. The movie caused controversy due to the lack of justification of the main character's political involvement.
On 12 September 1970 Modiano married Dominique Zerhfuss. "I have a catastrophic souvenir of the day of our marriage. It rained. A real nightmare. Our groomsmen were Queneau, who had mentored Patrick since his adolescence, and Malraux, a friend of my father. They started to argue about Dubuffet, and it was like we were watching a tennis match! That said, it would have been funny to have some photos, but the only person who had a camera forgot to bring the film. There is only one photo remaining of us, from behind and under an umbrella!" (Interview with Elle, 6 October 2003). From their marriage came two girls, Zina (1974) and Marie (1978).
Screenplays
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...
novelist born 30 July 1945 in Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Boulogne-Billancourt is a sub-prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Boulogne-Billancourt....
of a father of Jewish Italian origins and a Belgian mother, Louisa Colpijn (actress). He is a winner of the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française
Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
Le Grand Prix du Roman is a French literary award, created in 1918, and given each year by the Académie française. Along with the Prix Goncourt, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary awards in France...
in 1972, the Prix Goncourt
Prix Goncourt
The Prix Goncourt 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"...
in 1978 for his novel Rue des boutiques obscures
Rue des Boutiques Obscures
Missing Person is the sixth novel by Patrick Modiano published 5 September 1978. In the same year it was awarded the Prix Goncourt. The English translation by Daniel Weissbort was published in 1980...
. Modiano was honored with the prestigious 2010 Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
The Prix mondial Cino Del Duca is an international literary award.-Origins and operations:It was established in 1969 in France by Simone Del Duca to continue the work of her husband, publishing magnate Cino Del Duca .Designed to recognize and reward an author whose work constitutes, in a...
by the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
for his lifetime achievement.
Biography
Modiano's parents met in occupied ParisParis
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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and began their relationship in semi-clandestinity. Modiano's childhood took place in a unique atmosphere: between the absence of his father—of which he heard many troubled stories—and his mother's frequent tours, he had to complete his secondary education by government aid. This brought him closer to his brother, Rudy, who died of a disease at age 10 (the works of Patrick Modiano from 1967 to 1982 are dedicated to him). This disappearance announced the end of the author's childhood, who continued to hold a marked nostalgia for this period.
Modiano studied at the École du Montcel primary school in Jouy-en-Josas
Jouy-en-Josas
Jouy-en-Josas is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center.Jouy-en-Josas is home to the prestigious HEC School of Management.-Geography:...
, at the Collège Saint-Joseph de Thônes
Thônes
Thônes is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Fier flows northwestward through the middle of the commune and crosses the village.-References:*...
in Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
, and then at the Lycée Henri-IV high school 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...
. While he was at Henri-IV, he took geometry lessons from writer Raymond Queneau
Raymond Queneau
Raymond Queneau was a French poet and novelist and the co-founder of Ouvroir de littérature potentielle .-Biography:Born in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Queneau was the only child of Auguste Queneau and Joséphine Mignot...
, who was a friend of Modiano's mother. He received his baccalaureate at Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
but didn't proceed with his higher education.
His meeting with Queneau, the author of Zazie dans le métro, was crucial. Modiano was introduced to the literary world by Queneau, and this gave him the opportunity to attend a cocktail party given by publishing house Éditions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard is one of the leading French publishers of books. The Guardian has described it as having "the best backlist in the world". In 2003 it and its subsidiaries published 1418 titles....
. He published his first novel, La Place de l’Étoile
La Place de l’Étoile
La Place de l’Étoile is the first novel of the French writer Patrick Modiano. It was published by Gallimard in 1968 and won the Prix Roger-Nimier and Fénéon Prize....
, with them in 1968, after having read the manuscript to Raymond Queneau. Starting that year, he did nothing but write.
The 2010 release of the German translation of La Place de l'Étoile won Modiano the German Preis der SWR-Bestenliste (Prize of the Southwest Radio Best-of List) from the Südwestrundfunk
Südwestrundfunk
The Südwestrundfunk is a public broadcasting company for the southwest of Germany, specifically the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The company has main offices in three cities: Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Mainz, with the director's office being in Stuttgart. It is an...
radio station, which hails the book as a major Post-Holocaust
The Holocaust in art and literature
There is a wide range of ways in which people have represented the Holocaust in popular culture.-Literature:Some of the more famous works are by Holocaust survivors or victims, such as Elie Wiesel, Primo Levi, Tadeusz Borowski, Jerzy Kosinski , Imre Kertész, Jean Améry, Edgar Hilsenrath, Anne...
work. The 42-year delay of the book's translation to German — surprising in that most of Modiano's works are translated to that language — is due to its highly controversial and at times satirically antisemitic content. La Place de l'Étoile has not yet been published in English.
In 1973, Modiano co-wrote the screenplay of Lacombe Lucien
Lacombe Lucien
Lacombe Lucien is a 1974 French film that tells the story of a teenage boy during the German occupation of France in World War II. It is based in part on director Louis Malle's own experiences.-Plot:...
, a movie directed by Louis Malle
Louis Malle
Louis Malle was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer. He worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. His films include Ascenseur pour l'échafaud , Atlantic City , and Au revoir, les enfants .- Early years in France :Malle was born into a wealthy industrialist family in Thumeries,...
which focuses on the involvement of a boy in the "French Gestapo", after being refused to join the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. The movie caused controversy due to the lack of justification of the main character's political involvement.
On 12 September 1970 Modiano married Dominique Zerhfuss. "I have a catastrophic souvenir of the day of our marriage. It rained. A real nightmare. Our groomsmen were Queneau, who had mentored Patrick since his adolescence, and Malraux, a friend of my father. They started to argue about Dubuffet, and it was like we were watching a tennis match! That said, it would have been funny to have some photos, but the only person who had a camera forgot to bring the film. There is only one photo remaining of us, from behind and under an umbrella!" (Interview with Elle, 6 October 2003). From their marriage came two girls, Zina (1974) and Marie (1978).
Filmography
Based upon Novels- Une jeunesse (from novel of same title) directed by Moshé MizrahiMoshé MizrahiMoshé Mizrahi is an Israeli film director.He has directed 14 films in both Israel and France. Three of his films were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, I Love You Rosa, The House on Chelouche Street and Madame Rosa, with the latter winning the award...
, 1983 - Le parfum d’Yvonne (from novel Villa triste) directed by Patrice LecontePatrice LecontePatrice Leconte is a French film director, actor, comic strip writer, and screenwriter.-Biography:...
, 1994
Screenplays
- Lacombe, Lucien (with Louis MalleLouis MalleLouis Malle was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer. He worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. His films include Ascenseur pour l'échafaud , Atlantic City , and Au revoir, les enfants .- Early years in France :Malle was born into a wealthy industrialist family in Thumeries,...
), 1973 - Bon VoyageBon VoyageBon voyage is a French phrase borrowed into English meaning, literally, "good journey", and usually translated as meaning "have a good trip".Bon voyage may also refer to:-Film and television:...
(with Jean-Paul RappeneauJean-Paul RappeneauJean-Paul Rappeneau is a French film director, screenwriter, and actor.He started out in film as an assistant and screenwriter collaborating with Louis Malle on Zazie dans le metro in 1960 and Vie privee in 1961...
), 2003
Further Reading
- Dervila Cook: Patrick Modiano's (Auto)Biographical Fictions. Rodopi, Amsterdam & New York 2005 ISBN 90-420-1884-4
- Martine Guyot-Bender & William VanderWolk: Paradigms of Memory: The Occupation and Other Hi-Stories in the Novels of Patrick Modiano. Peter Lang, Frankfurt 1998 ISBN 0-8204-3864-2
- Akane Kawakami: A Self-Conscious Art: Patrick Modiano's Postmodern Fictions. Liverpool University Press 2000 ISBN 0-85323-526-0 (Hardback) und ISBN 0-85323-536-8 (Paperback)
- Alan Morris: Patrick Modiano. Oxford 1996 ISBN 1-85973-098-1 (Cloth) ISBN 1-85973-004-3 (Paper)
- William VanderWolk: Rewriting the Past. Memory, History and Narration in the Novels of Patrick Modiano. Rodopi, Amsterdam 1997 ISBN 90-420-0179-8