The Many Lives of David Foenkinos
French author and film-maker
In conversation with Mohit Batra
Toss Jaipur – February 26 – 6PM Onwards
Biography
David Foenkinos is a renowned French novelist, screenwriter, and director, widely recognized for his insightful and often humorous explorations of human relationships. Born on October 28, 1974, in Paris, he studied literature and music before embarking on a successful literary career.
Foenkinos gained widespread acclaim with La Délicatesse (2009), a bestselling novel that was later adapted into a film starring Audrey Tautou and François Damiens. His work is characterized by a blend of sensitivity, wit, and an elegant prose style that captivates readers worldwide.
Over the years, he has published numerous novels, including Les Souvenirs (2011) , Charlotte (2014) — which won the prestigious Prix Renaudot and the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens— Numéro Deux (2022), a novel that reimagines the alternate fate of a young actor who narrowly missed the role of Harry Potter, and his most recent work, Tout le monde aime Clara (2024).
This latest novel delves into the power of celebrity and social fascination, exploring how an ordinary woman becomes the center of worldwide attention.
Beyond literature, Foenkinos has also made a mark in cinema, co-directing three films with his brother Stéphane Foenkinos. Their first collaboration, La Délicatesse (2011) , brought his novel to the big screen with great success.
They followed this with Jalouse (2017) , a sharp and touching portrait of a woman struggling with jealousy, starring Karin Viard. Their most recent film, Les Fantasmes (2021), is a bold and humorous exploration of human desires, featuring an ensemble cast including Monica Bellucci and Carole Bouquet.
With his signature blend of humor and emotion, David Foenkinos continues to be a leading voice in contemporary French literature and cinema, captivating audiences with stories that resonate deeply with the complexities of life and human nature.
