Double award-winning Franco-Venezuelan author Miguel Bonnefoy met his readers at the literary weekend in La Croix-Valmer
The literary weekend offered some wonderful discoveries for book lovers thanks to the cultural service. On Saturday, in Gigaro, under the scent of eucalyptus trees and the murmur of the waves, Alexandre Lasheras, a Franco-Spanish writer, came to present Le Manège des Andes, his first novel , published by Le Bruit du Monde. The plot, mainly set in Colombia - the country where the author has spent time - captivated the audience.
On Sunday, the Forum Constantin saw a change of scenery: a more urban setting, but with greater comfort for the many spectators who came to meet Miguel Bonnefoy. The 38-year-old Franco-Venezuelan author presented Le Rêve du Jaguar, his fifth novel published by Rivages. Awarded the Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française on October 24, 2024 , and then the Prix Femina on November 5 , he has established himself as a key figure on the contemporary literary scene.
Asked about the compliments received by the jury of the Académie Française, Miguel Bonnefoy confided: "They congratulated me on the unique tone of my writing, the richness of my vocabulary and recognized a rare breath in the language."
As for the members of the Femina jury, "these ladies praised the style, the family history of the novel and the strength of the female figures, barely transformed." Interviewed by Margot Dijkgraaf, privileged literary critic of the cultural service , the author shared snippets of his personal life. He notably mentioned his two grandmothers, obstetrician-gynecologists at a time when women had to fight for their place in society, and his mother, a determined diplomat, whom he followed around the world until he was 17. Back in Paris, he then began literary studies at the Sorbonne University.
A reading of a few excerpts by librarians Cynthia, Charlène, and Léa revealed a literary style that was unanimously acclaimed. Margot Dijkgraaf describes it as "flamboyant, abundant, and whirling."
The audience, captivated, was able to appreciate the richness of Miguel Bonnefoy's language, his impressive culture, his taste for mythology, and his undeniable generosity in exchange.
Var-Matin
