Michel Houellebecq wrote at a period when the terms of literature itself were being argued over.
The record lists Michel Houellebecq as French writer.
Michel Houellebecq was born at Saint-Pierre in 1956. His recorded nationality is France. He was educated at Lycée Chaptal and Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon.
Twentieth-century writing was shaped by war, exile and translation; many of its major careers were conducted across more than one language and country.
He worked as poet, film director and songwriter.
The writing is recorded in French.
His work is classed as essay.
Among his best-known works are The Map and the Territory, Whatever and Atomised. Books outlive their reviews, and the ones that last are seldom the ones that sold best.
The honours record reads: Prix Goncourt (2010), The prize of the BNF (2015) and Oswald Spengler Prize (2018).
That the work was written from France matters: language, censorship and the reach of a publishing industry decide which books travel and which stay local.
Michel Houellebecq is still writing, and the shape of the body of work is not yet settled.
Achievements
- Prix Goncourt — 2010
- The prize of the BNF — 2015
- Oswald Spengler Prize — 2018
- Notable work: The Map and the Territory
- Notable work: Whatever
- Notable work: Atomised
- Notable work: Platform
- Genres: essay
