Éric Emmanuel Schmitt

Life

Schmitt studied at the Lycée du Parc in Lyon, France and École normale supérieure in Paris (1980–1985), where he received a doctorate in philosophy. The title of his dissertation was "Diderot et la métaphysique" (Diderot and Metaphysics). He spent three years teaching in Cherbourg and at the University of Chambéry.

He is of Alsatian extraction. Growing up under the influence of his parents' atheist outlook, he eventually professed himself a Christian after years of being an agnostic.

He has lived in Brussels since 2002 and obtained Belgian citizenship in 2008.

Works

Initially, Schmitt was known as a scriptwriter for the stage. His debut work, "La nuit de Valognes", was produced a number of times in 1991 and 1992, both in France and abroad. His breakthrough theater work came with his second script, "Le Visiteur", which won three prizes at the "Nuit des Molières" in 1994.

The following years were littered with theatrical successes such as "Golden Joe" (1995), "Variations Énigmatiques" (1996), "Le Libertin" (1997), "Milarepa" (1997), "Frédérick ou Le Boulevard du Crime" (1998), "Hôtel des deux mondes" (1999) and "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran" (1999).

Schmitt covers a variety of themes in his work. "Golden Joe" takes a look of the cynical attitudes to life of those involved in high finance. In "Variations énigmatiques", the author gives voice to two very different men, who discuss their own philosophies of life and love - as it turns out, both were in love with the same woman. "Le Libertin" is a historical drama about the life of philosopher Denis Diderot and a film version was released in 2000.

In 2001, Schmitt was awarded the Grand prix du théâtre de l'Académie française. His plays have been performed in over fifty countries and translated into forty languages. They show influences from Samuel Beckett, Jean Anouilh and Paul Claudel, among others.

In addition to his plays, Schmitt has written a number of successful novels and short fiction, including "La Secte des Égoïstes" (1994), Oscar and the Lady in Pink ("Oscar et la Dame rose") (1999), "L'Évangile selon Pilate" (2000), "La Part de l'Autre" (2001), "Lorsque j'étais une œuvre d'art" (2002), "L'enfant de Noé" (2004), "Ma vie avec Mozart" (2005).

World religions play an important role in Schmitt's writing. In "Le Cycle de l'Invisible", Schmitt attempts a harmonization of religions and cultures. "Milarepa" is the first issue in this series and depicts Tibetan Buddhism. The second volume, "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran" is dedicated to Sufism, a subset of Islam, also referencing Judaism. "Oscar et la Dame rose" (the third volume) concerns Christianity. "L'enfant de Noé" deals with Judaism and Christianity. "Le Sumo qui ne pouvait pas grossir" (Zen Buddhism) rounds off the series.

In 2003, his novel "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran" (Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran) was adapted for film by François Dupeyron. Omar Sharif played the title role and won a César award for best actor in 2004.

In 2010 Schmitt was award the "Prix Goncourt de la Nouvelle" for "Concerto à la mémoire d'un ange".

In 2014, two magnificent operas have been created based on his texts, Oscar und die Dame in rosa by Francis Bollon in Freiburg, Cosi Fanciulli on an original topic by Nicolas Bacri at “St.Quentin-en-Yvelines”, then at the “Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.”

In pursuing a lifelong dream, Dupuis has published in September 2013 his first graphic novel 1st Chick "Les aventures de Poussin 1er", sketched by the talented Janry.

In 2016 Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt was unanimously elected by his peers member of the jury of the Prix Goncourt, he occupies Edmonde Charles-Roux's cover.

He is occupying the seat 33 of the Royal Belgian French Language and Literature Academy, occupied before him by Colette and Cocteau.

Selected Filmography