Biography books from France
Recommended biography books (17)
Travel the world without leaving your chair.
If you are into biography here are some biography books from France for the next part of the Read Around The World Challenge.
1.
A Woman's Story by Annie Ernaux EN
Description:
WINNER OF THE 2022 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE A New York Times Notable Book "A deeply affecting account of mothers and daughters, youth and age, and dreams and reality" (Kirkus Reviews) Upon her mother’s death from Alzheimer’s, Ernaux embarks on a daunting journey back through time, as she seeks to "capture the real woman, the one who existed independently from me, born on the outskirts of a small Normandy town, and who died in the geriatric ward of a hospital in the suburbs of Paris." She explores the bond between mother and daughter, tenuous and unshakable at once, the alienating worlds that ... continue
2.
Darwin : An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau EN
Description:
This sweeping, intelligent and immersive biographical graphic novel from award-winning creators, joins legendary scientist Charles Darwin as a young man, as he embarks on his voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle. It is the year 1831. A gifted but distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, in a chain of events that will change both his life and the course of modern science. Join him on an epic journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution.
3.
Forvandlingens metode by Édouard Louis DK
Description:
"The story of my life is a long series of broken friendships. At every stage of my life, of this race with myself, I have had to leave people I have loved in order to go even further. It was not a conscious decision on my part, nor on theirs: I was fighting to transform myself, and they did not have the same obsession..." French author Édouard Louis' autofictional novel The Method of Transformation is a story about moving from the absolute bottom of society to the top. About escaping one's background through success and becoming part of Paris's economic and soci... continue
4.
Gaddafi's Harem by Annick Cojean EN
Description:
This shocking and moving investigation into the hidden abuses perpetrated by Colonel Gaddafi reveals an appalliing private life.
5.
Hidden Childhood : A Jewish Girl's Sanctuary in a French Convent, 1942-1945 by Frida Scheps Weinstein EN
Description:
During World War II, a young Jewish girl known as F. is transported to a convent school at the Chateau de Beaujeu, France, where her fascination with catechism clouds her identification with her true heritage
6.
Io sono vivo, voi siete morti by Emmanuel Carrère IT
Description:
«Da adolescente» scrive Emmanuel Carrère nel "Regno" «sono stato un lettore appassionato di Dick e, a differenza della maggior parte delle passioni adolescenziali, questa non si è mai affievolita. Ho riletto a intervalli regolari "Ubik", "Le tre stimmate di Palmer Eldritch", "Un oscuro scrutare", "Noi marziani", "La svastica sul sole". Consideravo – e considero tuttora – il loro autore una specie di Dostoevskij della nostra epoca». A trentacinque anni, spinto da questa inesausta passione, Carrère decise di raccontare la vita, vissuta e sognata, di Philip K. Dick. Il risultato fu questo libro, ... continue
7.
L'allure de Chanel by Paul Morand FR
Description:
Paul Morand faisait partie des proches de Chanel. Son dernier livre, écrit à partir des conversations qu'il eut avec la modiste, restitue, dans la langue étincelante de ce grand conteur, l'insaisissable Coco Chanel. Nous suivons, racontées à la première personne, son enfance chez des tantes qui lui donneront le goût de l'épure et le sens de l'argent, ses rencontres avec les providentiels M. B. et Boy Capel ; puis la création de sa maison, ses luttes contre les excentricités vestimentaires des dames du monde, ses succès, ses amitiés... Revivent, sous la plume exquise et vive de Paul Morand, Rad... continue
8.
Description:
J'ai toujours eu envie d'écrire des livres dont il me soit ensuite impossible de parler, qui rendent le regard d'autrui insoutenable. Mais quelle honte pourrait m'apporter l'écriture d'un livre qui soit à la hauteur de ce que j'ai éprouvé dans ma douzième année.
9.
Description:
"Enfant, quand je m'efforçais de m'exprimer dans un langage châtié, j'avais l'impression de me jeter dans le vide. Une de mes frayeurs imaginaires, avoir un père instituteur qui m'aurait obligée à bien parler sans arrêt en détachant les mots. On parlait avec toute la bouche. Puisque la maîtresse me reprenait, plus tard j'ai voulu reprendre mon père, lui annoncer que se parterrer ou quart moins d'onze heures n'existaient pas. Il est entré dans une violente colère. Une autre fois : Comment voulez-vous que je ne me fasse pas reprendre, si vous parlez mal tout le temps ! Je pleurais. Il était malh... continue
10.
Les armoires vides by Annie Ernaux FR
Description:
Etudiante en lettres, l'auteure se remémore la période où affligée par sa famille de tous les vices, elle en vient à la détester et se trouve confrontée à l'expérience difficile de l'avortement.