Florian Zeller
Florian Zeller | |
|---|---|
| Florian Zeller, Time Magazine Florian Zeller, Time Magazine | |
| Born | June 28, 1979 Paris, France |
| Occupation | novelist, playwright, journalist |
| Nationality | French |
| Period | 2002 - |
| Genre | literary fiction, theatre, librettos, journalism |
| Literary movement | Postmodernism |
Florian Zeller (born 28 June, 1979 in Paris) is a French novelist and playwright. His work has been translated into a dozen languages, including English. He won the Prix Interallié in 2004 for his novel "Fascination of Evil" ("La Fascination du Pire").
Biography
Florian Zeller was born in Paris on June 28, 1979. His father worked in the automobile industry in France and Germany. His mother is a professional psychic.
He was admitted to the prestigious Paris Institute for Political Science (Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris or Sciences Po). During his studies he wrote his first novel, co-founded a literary webzine and was an intern for the Parisian publishing house Flammarion, which has published all his novels so far.
Florian Zeller's first novel Neiges artificielles (translation: 'Artificial Snow') was published to moderate acclaim when the author was twenty-two years old. Shortly thereafter, he was asked to teach at his Alma Mater. He taught literature at Sciences-Po for a few years. His second novel, "Lovers or Something Like it" was well received but it was his third novel, Fascination of Evil (the 2004 Prix Interallié winner) which made him a household name in France. The book, which explores the relationship of the West with Islam, caused some controversy; it was also regarded by some critics to be heavily influenced and/or inspired by Michel Houellebecq's novel, Platform, and the trial that was brought against Houellebecq following the book's publication.
Florian Zeller is also fast becoming one of France's most well-known contemporary playwrights. He was allegedly persuaded to write his first play by French literary giant Françoise Sagan, to whom he has been compared. His first play, L'Autre, (translation: 'The Other') has had several runs. His third play, Si tu mourrais (translation: 'If you died' or 'If you were to die'), was nominated for a Globe de Cristal' in France.
Zeller writes occasional pieces for various French publications, including Paris Match and French Vogue. He is also a book reviewer for 'Vol de Nuit', a show dedicated to literature that airs on the French channel TF1.
Florian Zeller lives in Paris with ex-model, actress and sculptor Marine Delterme, who played one of the main roles in the Parisian production of his play 'Le Manège', and Delterme's son from a previous relationship.
Bibliography
Novels (and UK/US translations)
- Neiges artificielles, Flammarion, 2002
- Les Amants du n’importe quoi, Flammarion, 2003 - Lovers or Something Like it, Pushkin (Modern) Books
- La Fascination du pire, Flammarion, 2004 (Prix Interallié) - Fascination of Evil, Pushkin Press.
- Julien Parme, Flammarion, 2006 - Julien Parme, Other Press.
Plays
- L'Autre - 2004
- Le Manège - 2005
- Si tu mourais - 2006 (Prix Jeune Théâtre of the Académie française)