Michel Déon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michel Déon
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Michel Déon in 2012
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| Born | Édouard Michel 4 August 1919 Paris, France |
| Died | 28 December 2016 (aged 97) Galway, Ireland |
| Occupation | Writer, playwright, editor |
| Education | Lycée Janson-de-Sailly |
| Genre | Novels, essays, theater |
| Literary movement | Hussards |
| Notable works | Les Poneys sauvages (1970) Un taxi mauve (1973) The Foundling Boy (1975) |
| Notable awards | Prix Interallié Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française Commander of the Legion of Honour Académie française, Seat 8 |
| Spouse | Chantal Déon |
| Children | 2 |
Michel Déon (born Édouard Michel; 4 August 1919 – 28 December 2016) was a famous French writer. He wrote many novels and was also a literary columnist. Michel Déon published over 50 books during his life.
He won several important awards for his writing. For example, his 1970 novel, Les Poneys sauvages (which means The Wild Ponies), won the Prix Interallié. His 1973 novel, Un taxi mauve (A Purple Taxi), received the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française. Many of his books have been translated into different languages.
Michel Déon is seen as one of the most creative French writers of the 20th century. In 1978, he was chosen to be a member of the Académie française. This is a very respected group that protects the French language.
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Michel Déon's Early Life
Michel Déon was born in Paris, France, on 4 August 1919. He was the only child of a government worker and his wife. His father's job meant the family traveled a lot to other countries. This made young Michel interested in travel and different cultures. These experiences later became a big part of his writing.
In 1933, his father passed away in Monaco. Michel and his mother then moved back to Paris. He went to a school called Lycée Janson-de-Sailly. Even though he loved literature and journalism, he studied law in college. This was because his family wanted him to.
Michel Déon was born just after World War I ended. Like many people his age, he believed in peace. When he joined the French military, he was part of the 152nd regiment. Later, he worked for Charles Maurras, an older writer. Maurras was a member of the Académie française. Déon mostly helped Maurras with his newspaper. Déon said that Maurras taught him to dislike leaders who try to trick people. He also learned to dislike fascism, which is a type of strict government. Déon always believed that freedom was the most important thing in life. He wrote about this time in his book, "les Vingt ans du jeune homme vert."
Michel Déon's Writing Career
After World War II finished, Déon returned to Paris. He decided to become a full-time writer. First, he worked for small French newspapers. This helped him earn money while he wrote his first novel and short stories. His first collection of short stories, Adieux à Sheila, came out in 1944.
Soon after his first book, Déon received a special grant. This grant helped him travel across the United States. While he was there, he worked with famous writers like William Faulkner and Saul Bellow. They helped each other a lot. Déon even helped Saul Bellow translate his books into French.
Michel Déon and other French writers like Jacques Laurent and Antoine Blondin were part of a group. They were against the ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre and other popular thinkers. This group of writers became known as Les Hussards. The name came from a novel called The Blue Hussar. They were known for being new and different. They liked unusual characters and refused to follow popular trends in writing.
In 1944, a publishing company called Éditions de la Table ronde was started. This company published books by many of the Les Hussards writers. They published several of Déon's novels. These included Les Gens de la Nuit and La Carotte et le Bâton. Around 1970, this company joined with Éditions Gallimard. Gallimard then published more than twenty of Déon's books.
In 1970, Déon's novel Les Poneys sauvages (The Wild Ponies) won the Prix Interallié. This award is given every year to the best novel written by a journalist.
Déon wrote one of his most famous books, Un taxi mauve (A Purple Taxi), in 1973. It became very popular right away. It won the Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française. In 1977, Un Taxi Mauve was even made into a movie. The next year, in 1978, Déon was elected to the Académie française.
Besides his own books and awards, Déon also worked with famous people. In 1953, he helped Coco Chanel write her life story. But she decided not to publish it. Déon destroyed the only copy to protect their friendship. In 1966, Déon worked with the artist Salvador Dalí. He helped Dalí write his memories, called Diary of a Genius.
Michel Déon's Personal Life
Much of Déon's writing was inspired by his travels. He visited places like Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and Portugal. In the 1940s, he explored the United States by Greyhound Bus.
Déon was also a member of the Portuguese Academy of Science and Letters. He received special honorary degrees from universities in Athens and Ireland. He was also made an honorary citizen of cities like Nice and Antibes in France. His books have been translated into many languages.
Déon and his wife Chantal had two children, Alice and Alexandre. They raised their children on the small Greek island of Spetsai. In 1968, when their children were old enough for school, France was going through a lot of changes. So, the Déon family moved to Ireland. For over forty years, Ireland was their home. Chantal even raised fifty horses there! Déon wrote his books at his special Louis XVI desk. He often visited France.
Michel Déon passed away at the age of 97 on 28 December 2016. He died in Galway, Ireland.
Michel Déon's Novels
The Wild Ponies
Les Poneys Sauvages (1970) is a story about secrets and revenge. It starts in 1937 with four friends: George, Barry, Cyril, and Horace. They are students at the University of Cambridge. As the 1930s end, the friends get caught up in World War II. Those who survive the war travel across Europe for thirty years. They go from Italy to Poland and back to Paris. As they get older, they learn that the past is hard to forget. In 1981, this book was made into a six-part TV show.
A Purple Taxi
Un Taxi Mauve (1973) is about a group of troubled people from Europe and America. They have moved to a quiet part of Ireland, each for their own reasons. They live in a kind of self-imposed exile. Their lives get tangled up with love and secrets. An English movie based on the book came out in 1977. It was called The Purple Taxi and starred Fred Astaire and Charlotte Rampling.
The Foundling Boy
In The Foundling Boy (Le Jeune Homme Vert) (1975), we meet a baby named Jean, born in 1919. He is adopted by a couple who work on a rich family's estate. The book follows Jean's adventures and those of others. This includes the owner of the estate where he grew up. Jean eventually joins the French army when World War II begins. One writer compared Jean to a character from an old book, saying his adventures are fun and happen in many places. The book also shows what Europe was like between the two world wars. A second book, The Foundling's War (Les Vingt Ans du Jeune Homme Vert), came out in 1977.
A Memory
In Un Souvenir (1990), Edward is over sixty years old and feels like an old man. He finds an old photo from 1936. It shows him with a beautiful girl named Sheila. She was someone he met in England during the war and never forgot. Even though he is old, he goes back to England to find her. He wants to understand his feelings about losing her.
Greek Pages
In Pages Grecques (1993), Déon explores the rich history of Greek culture. He uses stories about Greek gods, muses, and legendary figures. He also includes real historical events and people. Déon mixes these two parts of Greece's past. He creates a beautiful and inspiring picture of the culture.
The Great and the Good
The Great and the Good (La Cour Des Grands, 1996) tells the story of Arthur Morgan. He is the son of a poor French widow. In 1950, he gets a first-class boat ticket to the United States. There, he lives the classic American dream. He finishes college and moves to New York City. He becomes a successful stockbroker. When he returns to France because of a family sadness, he has to deal with his American life and his past. He is surprised to see what has happened to his old friends.
Horseman, Pass By!
Horseman, Pass By! (Cavalier, passe ton chemin!, 2005) shares the history of the Irish people. It mixes facts with made-up stories. Déon looks at Ireland's amazing folklore and cultural legends. He explores what makes the Irish people unique.
English Translations of Michel Déon's Works
Some of Michel Déon's books have been translated into English.
- Un déjeuner de soleil was translated as Where Are You Dying Tonight? in 1983 (UK) and 1989 (US).
- Le Jeune Homme vert became The Foundling Boy in 2013.
- The sequel, Les Vingt Ans du Jeune Homme Vert, was published as The Foundling's War in 2014.
- La cour des grands was translated as The Great and the Good in 2016.
- La chambre de ton père became Your Father's Room in 2017.
Movies and Documentaries About Michel Déon
- 1977: The Purple Taxi (Un taxi mauve). This was a movie based on Michel Déon's novel. It was directed by Yves Boisset and starred Charlotte Rampling and Fred Astaire.
- 1979: Le jeune homme vert. This was a TV show based on the novel.
- 1982: Michel Déon. A documentary about him.
- 1983: Les Poneys sauvages. A TV show based on his novel.
- 1995: Michel Déon. Another documentary about the writer.
- 2008: Un souvenir. A TV show based on Michel Déon's novel.
- 2018: Michel Déon ou la force de l'amitié. A documentary about Michel Déon and the power of friendship.
See also
In Spanish: Michel Déon para niños
