The Modern Novel

Biography

Philippe Djian was born in Paris in 1949. His father was of Armenian origin. After studying literature at Vincennes, he briefly studied journalism. He first worked as a docker in Le Havre and then travelled in the United States and Colombia. On returning to France he continued to work at different jobs – in a book shop, on a railway, motorway toll collector – and also met his future wife Année, a painter. They now have three children. His first book was rejected by Gallimard as not being a work of literature but was published by Bernard, Barrault and Fixot. He used the money to work on his house and refused to come to Paris. Bernard, Barrault and Fixot published his first three books without ever seeing him. In 1985 he moved to Biarritz, in 1988, to Boston, Massachusetts, moving to Florence, Bordeaux and Lausanne before ending up in Paris. Despite having being rejected by the French literary establishment, he is now published by Gallimard. His writings are erotic and he has been accused of obscenity, particularly for Vers chez les blancs. He claims influence from American writers, particularly those who are less literary such as Bukowski, Kerouac, Raymond Carver and Henry Miller.

Books about Philippe Djian

Mohamed Boudjedra: Philippe Djian (in French)
Catherine Flohic: Philippe Djian revisité (in French)

Other sites

Philippe Djian
Philippe Djian (in French)
Philippe Djian (in French)
Philippe Djian (in French)
Philippe Djian en homme rangé (in French)