J. M. G. Le Clézio bibliography facts for kids
This is a list of books and writings by J. M. G. Le Clézio, a French writer who won the Nobel Prize for literature. He is known for his unique stories and his interest in different cultures.
Contents
Novels
Novels are long stories that tell about characters and events, often exploring deep ideas or adventures. Le Clézio has written many novels throughout his career.
| Title in French | English translation | French publication date |
|---|---|---|
| Le Procès-Verbal | The Interrogation | 1963 |
| Le Livre des fuites | The Book of Flights: An Adventure Story | 1965 |
| Le Déluge | The Flood | 1966 |
| Terra amata | Terra Amata | 1969 |
| La Guerre | War | 1970 |
| Les Géants | The Giants | 1973 |
| Désert | Desert | 1980 |
| Le Chercheur d'or | The Prospector | 1985 |
| La Grande Vie | The Great Life | 1986 |
| Celui qui n'avait jamais vu la mer | The Boy Who Had Never Seen the Sea | 1988 |
| Onitsha | Onitsha | 1991 |
| Étoile errante | Wandering Star | 1992 |
Children's Books
Le Clézio has also written books specifically for younger readers. These stories often have themes of adventure, discovery, and understanding the world.
| Title in French | English translation | French publication date |
|---|---|---|
| Lullaby | ----------- | 1980 |
| La Grande Vie suivi de Peuple du ciel | The Great Life (partially translated) | 1980 |
| Balaabilou | --------- | 1985 |
| Villa Aurore | --------- | 1999 |
| L'enfant de sous le pont | ----------- | 2000 |
| Celui qui n'avait jamais vu la mer | The Boy Who Had Never Seen the Sea | 2002 |
| Voyage au pays des arbres | ----------- | 2007 |
Short Stories
Short stories are shorter works of fiction, usually focusing on a single event or a few characters. Le Clézio has published several collections of short stories.
La Fièvre
This collection was translated into English as "The Fever" in 1966.
| Original French | English translation |
|---|---|
| La fièvre | Fever |
| Le jour où Beaumont fit connaissance avec sa douleur | The Day that Beaumont became Acquainted with his Pain |
| Il me semble que le bateau se dirige vers l'île | It Seems to Me the Boat is Heading for the Island |
| - | Backwards |
| - | The Walking Man |
| Martin | Martin |
| - | The World is Alive |
| - | Then I shall be able to Find Peace and Slumber |
| - | A Day of Old Age |
Mondo et autres histoires
| Original French | English translation |
|---|---|
| Mondo | - |
| Lullaby | - |
| La montagne du dieu vivant | - |
| Celui qui n'avait jamais vu la mer | The Boy Who Had Never Seen the Sea |
| Hazaran | - |
| Martin | - |
| Peuple du ciel | - |
| Les bergers | - |
La ronde et autres faits divers
This collection was translated into English as "The Round & Other Cold Hard Facts."
| Original French | English translation |
|---|---|
| La ronde | The Round |
| Moloch | Moloch |
| L'échappé | The Escapee |
| Ariane | Ariadne |
| Villa Aurore | Villa Aurore |
| Le jeu d'Anne | Anne's Game |
| La grande vie | The Great Life |
| Le passeur | The Runner |
| O voleur, voleur, quelle vie est la tienne? | O Thief What Is the Life You Lead? |
| Orlamonde | Yondaland |
| David | David |
Printemps et autres saisons
| Original French | English translation |
|---|---|
| Printemps | - |
| Fascination | - |
| Le temps ne passe pas | - |
| Zinna | - |
| La saison des pluies | The Rainy Season |
Awaité Pawana
| Original French | English translation |
|---|---|
| Awaité Pawana | Pawana |
Tabataba suivi de pawana
| Original French | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tabataba | - |
| Pawana | - |
Essays
Essays are non-fiction writings where the author explores a topic or expresses their ideas. Le Clézio has written many essays, often reflecting on culture, history, and his own experiences.
| French title | English translation | French publication date |
|---|---|---|
| Le Rêve mexicain ou la pensée interrompue | The Mexican Dream, or, The Interrupted Thought of Amerindian Civilizations | 1965 |
| Conversations avec J.M.G. Le Clézio | ------------ | 1971 |
| Haï | ------------ | 1971 |
| Mydriase | ------------ | 1973 |
| Vers les icebergs (Essai sur Henri Michaux) | ------------ | 1978 |
| L'Inconnu sur la Terre | ------------ | 1978 |
| Trois Villes saintes | ------------ | 1980 |
| Sur Lautréamont | ------------ | 1987 |
| Diego et Frida | ------------ | 1993 |
| Ailleurs | ------------ | 1995 |
| Enfances | ------------ | 1998 |
| Le Llano en flammes | ------------ | 2003 |
| L'Extase matérielle | ------------ | 1967 |
| L’Africain | ------------ | 2004 |
| Ballaciner | ------------ | 2007 |
| La liberté pour Rêver and La liberté pour parler | Freedom to Dream and Freedom to Speak | ------------ |
| Sur la lecture comme le vrai voyage | On reading as true travel | ------------ |
| Dans la forêt des paradoxes | In the forest of paradoxes | 2008 |
| ? | In the Eye of the Sun: Mexican Fiestas | ------------ |
Travel Diaries
Travel diaries are books where an author writes about their journeys, observations, and experiences in different places. Le Clézio's travel diaries offer a glimpse into the places he has visited and the cultures he has encountered.
| Title in French | French publication date | Storyline |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage à Rodrigues | 1986 | This book tells how family problems were solved by remembering adventure stories his grandfather told during a trip from Mauritius to Rodrigues. |
| Gens des nuages | 1997 | Gens des nuages means The Cloud People. It's about Le Clézio's wife, Jémia, whose family were nomads in the desert. She visited the Sahara for the first time on this trip. |
| Raga. Approche du continent invisible | 2006 | This book describes travels in the islands of Vanuatu in the Pacific. It shows a way of life that is changing due to globalization and shares thoughts on the vastness of the sea. |
Translated Collections
Le Clézio has also translated important cultural texts from other languages into French, showing his deep interest in different traditions and histories.
Les Prophéties du Chilam Balam
Le Clézio translated "Les Prophéties du Chilam Balam" in 1976. These are ancient Mayan books from Mexico, filled with songs, prophecies, and calendars. Le Clézio learned the Mayan language while living in a village in the 1970s. He felt it was important to understand these ancient cultures.
Sirandanes
Le Clézio, along with his wife Jémia, translated "Sirandanes" in 1988. This book includes a small dictionary of a Creole language and information about birds.
