Special Recognitions 2009 - Arts
Jean-Philippe Toussaint
Sciences Po 
Jean-Philippe Toussaint is a renowned writer and the recipient of two important literary awards (the Rossel for Television in 1997 and the Médicis for Running Away in 2005). His works are avidly read by loyal francophone readers, have been translated into more than twenty languages, are studied by university students all over Europe, and are outstandingly popular in Japan.
Toussaint’s success maybe lies in his knack for seeing nobility in the humdrum of modern-day life, as well as in writing novels that are simultaneously scholarly and highly entertaining.
Toussaint’s famous work “The Bathroom” has had a major influence on French literature, inspiring it with a new sense of confidence and direction. |