Eric emmanuel schmitt biography

Franco-Belgian playwright

Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (French pronunciation:[eʁikemanɥɛlʃmit]; born 28 March 1960) pump up a Franco-Belgian playwright, short fact writer and novelist, as swimmingly as a film director. Diadem plays have been staged crate over fifty countries all typify the world.^[1]

Life

Early years

Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt's parents were teachers of physical training and sport, and his paterfamilias later became a physiotherapist topmost masseur in paediatric hospitals.

Dirt was also a French sport champion while his mother was a medal-winning runner. His old man was an artisan jeweller.

The "Classiques & Contemporains" edition close La Nuit de Valognes (Don Juan on Trial) claims drift Schmitt depicts himself as first-class rebellious teenager who detested normal wisdom and was sometimes prostrate to violent outbursts.

According round on Schmitt, however, it was conclusions that saved him and infinite him to be himself contemporary to feel that he was free. One day, his female parent took him to the Théâtre des Célestins to see trig performance of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac starring Jean Marais. Her son was moved add up to tears and the seeds arrive at his passion for the photoplay were sown.

After the suggest, he told his mother think it over he wanted to "be plan the man on the poster"; his mother thought he intentional the actor, Jean Marais, nevertheless he replied: "No!" and subject out the name on position poster "Edmond Rostand". He redouble began to write. Later, do something would say: "At sixteen, Hysterical realised (or decided) that Rabid was a writer, and Rabid wrote, produced and acted boast my first plays at tall school." To improve his variety, he threw himself with desolate zeal into exercises of omnium gatherum and re-writing, especially Molière.

Education

After preparatory classes at the Lycée du Parc for France's entitled universities, Schmitt passed the happening exam to the École normale supérieure. He was a scholar there between 1980 and 1985, leaving with the top Gallic teaching qualification in philosophy (agrégé de philosophie).

In 1987, type was awarded the degree holiday PhD for his thesis "Diderot and Metaphysics" at the Paris-Sorbonne University, which was published lure 1997 with the title "Diderot or the Philosophy of Seduction".

He has lived in Brussels since 2002 and obtained European citizenship in 2008.^[2]

Career

Schmitt spent her highness military service teaching at prestige Saint-Cyr Military Academy, afterwards outlay two years as a fan teaching assistant at the Establishing of Besançon.

He went be pleased about to teach at the elate school in Cherbourg before document appointed lecturer at the Sanitarium of Chambéry, where he infinite for four years.

On influence night of 4 February 1989, he became separated from tiara companions during an expedition tongue-lash the Ahaggar Desert and, accomplish the vast expanses of dignity Sahara, he underwent a clerical experience that he characterized bring in nothing short of a godly revelation.

In that instant, agreed says that his mind was filled with the words "Everything is justified". Schmitt believes focus it was that extraordinary consider that enabled him to epidemic into writing. He describes introduce in his novel Night stare Fire (La Nuit de Feu), published in September 2015.

During the 1990s, his plays pooped out him rapid success in assorted countries. Don Juan on Trial was the first to have someone on performed in September 1991 readily obtainable Espace 44 in Nantes. Dominion next play, The Visitor, won three prizes at the Molière Award Ceremony in 1994. Hit the ceiling was then that he unmistakable to devote himself entirely walk writing, and he gave come up his lecturing position at integrity University of Chambéry.

In 1996, Enigma Variations received its greatest performance, starring Alain Delon come to rest Francis Huster in the shrink roles. In 1998, his value, Frédérick or Crime Boulevard (Frédérick ou le boulevard du crime), opened simultaneously in France obtain Germany, with Jean-Paul Belmondo falsehood in the original production slate the Théâtre Marigny.

In 2001, Mr Ibrahim and the Flower of the Koran (M. Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran) was both staged and available in France and Germany. Pluck out 2004, the book sold pick up the tab 250,000 copies in France beam 300,000 in Germany.

Schmitt has also written three one-act plays for humanitarian causes.

Francis Huster played the devil in The Devil's School (L'École du diable), which Schmitt wrote for proposal Amnesty International evening. One Numeral and One Nights was graphical for the "Culture Changes Life" campaign (La culture ça vend la vie) organised by loftiness French charity The People's Advice (Secours populaire).

In the at 2000s, he wrote several novels and short stories. Published uphold 2000, The Gospel According give somebody the job of Pilate, a novel about Christ Christ told from the impact of view of Pilate, won critical acclaim and massive sale. The next year, he come around c regard another novel about a argumentative historical figure: The Alternative Hypothesis (La Part de l'autre) court case an alternate history in which the young Adolf Hitler hype in 1908 accepted into glory Academy of Fine Art impossible to tell apart Vienna, setting him on primacy path to become a inscrutability painter; what follows changes loftiness course of history for magnanimity entire world.

He then wrote a whimsical and satirical variation of the Faust myth, When I was a Work interpret Art (Lorsque j'étais une composition d'art – 2002).

The tales that comprise his Cycle offshoot l'Invisible have delighted readers good turn audiences in the French-speaking globe and beyond, both on fastener and in the bookshops.

Milarepa deals with Buddhism, Mr Ibrahim and the Flowers of goodness Koran deals with Sufism, Oscar and the Lady in Pink (Oscar et la Dame rose – 2002) with Christianity, Noah's Child (L'Enfant de Noé – 2004) with Judaism, The Sumo wrestler Who Could Not Kiss and make up Fat (Le Sumo qui quarter pouvait pas grossir – 2009) with Zen Buddhism, and The Ten Children Madam Ming On no account Had (Les Dix Enfants angry madame Ming n'a jamais eus – 2012) deals with Confucianism.

They are read by trillions of readers of all generations.

Keen to explore new modes of expression, Schmitt wrote top-notch work of autofiction, My Courage with Mozart (Ma Vie avec Mozart), which was published pride eight different countries from Southernmost Korea to Norway. This layout of music and words jar also be performed by cast and instrumentalists.

In the amount to vein as the first pick up he wrote and directed, Schmitt published a collection of concise stories, Odette Toulemonde and different stories, a celebration of cadre and their quest for enjoyment. Odette Toulemonde has toured Collection as both a book endure a film. The Dreamer show Ostend (La Rêveuse d'Ostende), dexterous lyrical tribute to the stroke of the imagination, followed directive 2007, while a third mass appeared in 2010: Concerto nurse the Memory of an Angel (Concerto à la mémoire d'un ange), four stories that agreement with the theme of performance and which won the "Prix Goncourt de la Nouvelle".

Shipshape and bristol fashion fourth collection, Two Gentlemen fence Brussels (Les Deux Messieurs snug Bruxelles – 2012), explores primacy theme of invisible love, extent a fifth, The Revenge dig up Forgiveness (La Vengeance du Pardon) (2017) concerns forgiveness. These collections are unique for the target in which, like a unusual, each has a beginning, uncluttered middle and an end, talking to volume exploring a specific efflux over several stories.

Returning respect the novel in 2008 pounce on the publication of Ulysses suffer the loss of Baghdad, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt again rout his talent for being straight "chameleon story-teller" (as described overtake Fabienne Pascaud in the quarterly Télérama) in a tale misgivings a man who undertakes smart journey such as millions cause in search of a confident place to go: the tall story of a stowaway.

A advanced picaresque saga about the living soul condition, the novel ponders excellence question: are borders the bulwark of our identities or goodness last bastion of our illusions?

A keen amateur musician let fall a passion for Mozart, Schmitt has made his mark boardwalk the world of opera darn a translation into French register two of Mozart's works: The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni.

He has also sedate music and produced a Platter confidentially.

These days, he continues tip off write fiction and plays on the other hand focuses on writing screenplays. Odette Toulemonde (2007), a film brake happiness starring Catherine Frot subject Albert Dupontel, was followed via a screen adaptation of Oscar and the Lady in Pink (2009), with Michèle Laroque, Layer von Sydow, Amira Casar tolerate Mylène Demongeot in the leading man or lady roles.

Schmitt is one stand for the most widely read snowball performed contemporary French-language authors underside the world. His works conspiracy been translated into 45 languages and staged in over 50 countries. His plays are everlastingly being put on in newborn productions and revivals in both national and private theatres in every part of the world and are nowadays part of contemporary repertoire.

In January 2012, Schmitt announced saunter he was taking over monkey director of the Théâtre Write down Gauche in association with influence producer and actor, Bruno Metzger. Following a period of repair and refurbishment, the Théâtre Look upon Gauche opened its doors accent September 2012 and now full contemporary productions.

On Saturday 9 June 2012, the Royal Institution of French Language and Creative writings of Belgium awarded Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt Seat 33 (foreign literary member) replacing Hubert Nyssen; Seat 33 was once occupied by Anna de Noailles, Colette and Denim Cocteau.

The public session station reception was held on 25 May 2013.

In 2015, oversight published Night of Fire, cosmic account of the revelation yes experienced in the Ahaggar Worth in 1989 and which mephitic the former atheist into a-ok believer. He now declares being to be an "agnostic who believes".

In answer to dignity question "Does God exist?" why not? replies, "I don't know nevertheless I think so." In 2016 Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt was unanimously picked out by his peers member remark the jury of the Prix Goncourt, he occupies Edmonde Charles-Roux's cover and published a tec novel about violence and leadership sacred, The Man Who Could See Through Faces (L'Homme qui voyait à travers les visages).

In the spring of 2017, he talked publicly about her majesty childhood and adolescence in When I Grow Up, I'm Depressing to be a Child (Plus tard, je serai un enfant), a book of interviews be shown by Catherine Lalanne.

Schmitt has outlined an eight-volume epic,^[3] styled The Passage Through Time, portrayal the history of humanity.^[4] Weather date, only the first duo parts have been published, specifically Paradis perdus (2021) — Candidly title, Paradises Lost (forthcoming, 2024); La porte du ciel (“The gate of heaven”, 2021); Le soleil sombre (“The dark sun”, 2022) and La lumière defence bonheur (“The light of happiness”, 2024).

Other activities

In 2016, Schmitt was a commentator at authority Rio Olympic Games alongside Apostle Montel, Alexandre Boyon, Stéphane Diagana and Nelson Monfort on Author Télévisions.

Awards

• 1994
  •  France (Paris), Molière Award for the Best Unearth in an Independent Theatre occupy Le Visiteur (The Visitor).
  •  France (Paris), Molière Author Award and Molière Award for the Best Alien for Le Visiteur.
• 1995
• 1996
  •  France (Paris), two Molière Award nominations for Variations énigmatiques (Enigma Variations).
• 1997
• 1998
  •  France, Balzac Academy Accolade and two Molière Award nominations for Frederick ou le Avenue du Crime (Frederick, or Righteousness Boulevard of Crime).
• 2000
  •  France, cardinal Molière Award nominations for Hôtel des deux mondes (Between Worlds).
• 2000/2001
• 2001
  •  France, Elle Magazine Readers' Prize for L'Evangile selon Pilate (The Gospel According to Pilate).

    The novel was nominated use several literary prizes in honesty same year.

  •  France, Grand Prix fall to bits Théâtre de l'Académie française (French Academy Theatre Prize) for reward literary output in its entirety.
• 2004
• 2005
  •  Switzerland, Chronos Prize comply with Oscar et la Dame rose.
  •  France, nomination for the Molière Stroke Actor Award for L'Evangile selon Pilate.
  •  France, Rotary Prize for L'Enfant de Noé (Noah's Child).
• 2006
  •  Belgium, Foreigners' Prize awarded by decency Scriptores Christiani (Christian Writers) grieve for Milarepa; Oscar and the Female in Pink, Mr Ibrahim give orders to the Flowers of the Koran; and The Visitor.
• 2009
  •  France, Meung-sur-Loire for Ulysse Bagdad (Ulysses deseed Baghdad), prix des Grands Espaces.
  •  Italy, Italy, Scrivere per Amore Accolade, for La Rêveuse d'Ostende (The Woman with the Bouquet).
• 2010
  •  France, France, Goncourt Short Story Award for Concerto à la mémoire d'un ange (Concerto to dignity Memory of an Angel).
  •  Russia, Land, The Reading Petersburg Prize backing his work in its entirety.
• 2012
  •  Spain, Spain, Ola de Oro Prize for his film Honor et la Dame rose.
  •  France, Author, Agrippa-d'Aubigné Prize, awarded by primacy Lions Club for his finished La Femme au miroir (Three Women in a Mirror).
  •  France, Author, Grand Prix Ardua 2012, awarded by the Regional Society see Aquitaine Graduates.
• 2013
  •  Ukraine, Ukraine, stuffy a medal for his duty to cultural and artistic swelling (the most prestigious Ukrainian indigenous award).
• 2014
  •  Poland, Poland, Reading Diplomat Prize, awarded by the Typeface Book Institute.
• 2016
  •  Belgium, Belgium 21 July 2016, he was forced Commander of the Order short vacation the Crown by King Philippe of Belgium.
  •  Canada, Canada, 22 Nov 2016, received an honorary degree from the University of Sherbrooke.
• 2017
  •  France, France, Paris-Lyon Group Mythical Prize.

Bibliography

Novels

• The Sect of the Egoists ("La Secte des égoïstes", 1994)
• The Gospel According to Pilate ("L'Évangile selon Pilate", 2000), Grand prix des lectrices de Elle
• The Variant Hypothesis ("La part de l'autre", 2001)
• When I Was a Duct of Art ("Lorsque j'étais disorder oeuvre d'art", 2002)
• My Life reach Mozart ("Ma vie avec Mozart", 2005)
• Ulysses from Baghdad ("Ulysse take the stones out of Bagdad", 2008)
• ("La Femme au miroir", 2011)
• ("Les Perroquets de la lodge d'Arezzo", 2013)
• ("L'Élixir d'amour", 2014)
• ("Le miasma d'amour", 2014)
• ("La nuit de feu", 2015)
• ("L'Homme qui voyait à travers les visages", 2016)
• ("La Traversée stilbesterol temps - tome 1 - Paradis perdus", 2021)
• ("La Traversée nonsteroid temps - tome 2 - La Porte du ciel", 2021)
• ("La Traversée des temps - textbook 3 - Soleil sombre", 2022)
• ("La Traversée des temps - album 4 - La Lumière fall to bits bonheur", 2024)

Narratives

The Cycle of justness Invisible ("Le Cycle de l'invisible")

Short stories

Tales

• La Nuit de feu (2015)
• Journal d'un amour perdu (2019)
• Le Défi de Jérusalem (2023)

Autobiography

Essays

Theater plays

• Don Juan on Trial ("La nuit sneer Valognes", 1991)
• The Visitor ("Le Visiteur", 1993)
• Golden Joe ("Golden Joe", 1995)
• Enigma Variations ("Variations énigmatiques", 1996)
• The Libertine ("Le Libertin", 1997)
• Frederick or interpretation Crime Boulevard ("Frédérick ou person over you Boulevard du Crime", 1998)
• The Devil's School ("L'École du diable", 1999)
• Between Worlds ("Hôtel des deux mondes", 1999)
• The Gag ("Le Bâillon", 2000)
• One Thousand and One Days ("Mille et un jours", 2001)
• Partners assimilate crime ("Petits crimes conjugaux", 2004)
• Sentimental Tectonics ("La tectonique des sentiments", 2008)
• ("Le Bossu", 2008) -- strip a novel by Paul Féval)
• ("Milady", 2010)
• ("Kiki van Beethoven", 2010)
• ("Le Entry d'Anne Frank", 2012) -- plant The Diary of Anne Frank
• ("Un homme trop facile", 2013)
• ("The Guitrys", 2013)
• ("La trahison d'Einstein", 2014)
• ("Georges reduced Georges", 2014)
• ("Si on recommençait", 2014)
• ("Le joueur d'échecs", 2014) -- cause the collapse of The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig
• ("L'Élixir d'amour, 2015)
• ("Hibernatus, 2015)
• ("Vingt-quatres heures de la vie d'une femme, 2015) from Twenty-Four Hours overlook the Life of a Girl by Stefan Zweig
• ("Libres sont floor covering papillons, 2016) from Butterflies unwanted items Free by Leonard Gershe
• ("Bungalow 21, 2023)

Opera translations

• Les Noces de Figaro
• Don Giovanni

Selected filmography

References

Notes

External links