Meeting with Miguel Bonnefoy and Éric Chacour
On Tuesday 18 March 2025 at 5pm, the authors Éric Chacour and Miguel Bonnefoy will take part in a literary encounter at the Thiemers Magasin bookshop.
-The event will be in French -
The French-Venezuelan author Miguel Bonnefoy will be visiting Copenhagen on 20th March as part of ‘Journée internationale de la francophonie’. In keeping with tradition, the conference will be held at the University of Copenhagen, Søndre Campus and this year’s theme is ‘Le voyage en francophonie’. Miguel Bonnefoy will discuss his latest novel ‘Le Rêve du jaguar’, which received the prestigious ‘Grand prix du roman de l’Académie francaise’ and ‘Prix Femina’ last year.
His novel, ‘Héritage’ (2020), has been published in Danish by Bobo.
Canadian (from Quebec) Éric Chacour will equally be visiting Copenhagen to receive ‘Prix littéraire des ambassadeurs francophones’ in 2025 for his novel ‘Ce que je sais de toi’ which since its publication in 2023 was first awarded ‘Prix Femina des lycéens’ and the following year ‘Prix des libraires’. After his visit to Denmark, Chacour will return to Paris to receive ‘Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie’. ‘Ce que je sais de toi’ is published in Danish by Holger.
Miguel Bonnefoy will give an interview on Thursday, 20th March at 13:30 at the University of Copenhagen.
The event is free, but registration is still required.
Éric Chacour’s ‘Ce que je sais de toi’ will be awarded ‘Prix littéraire des ambassadeurs francophones’, a prize presented every two years for a French-language novel translated into Danish. The event will take place under the patronage of HRH Princess Marie.
Le rêve du jaguar
The story begins in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where a mute beggar woman discovers a newborn baby on the steps of a church, unaware of the extraordinary fate that awaits the orphan. Antonio grows up in poverty, working as a cigarette vendor, a porter on the quayside, and a servant in a brothel, before emerging as one of the nation’s most renowed surgeons thanks to his perseverance. He is inspired by his unusual companion, Ana Maria, who turns out to be the region’s first female doctor. Together, they have a daugther, whom they name after their own nation, Venezuela. Despite her deep connections to South America, both trough her name and nationality, Venezuela dreams only of Paris. However, one can never truly forget their roots.
In this vibrant saga with unforgettable characters, Miguel Bonnefoy draws inspiration from his own ancestry to craft a vivid portrait of a remarkable family whose fate is intertwined with that of Venezuela.
Ce que je sais de toi
We find ourselves in Cairo during the 1980s. Tarek, a young doctor who has inheritedhis father’s medical practice, feels trapped in his otherwise orderly life. He struggles to balance his demanding career with the daily routine of his family, which includes a queitly and loving wife, an authoritarian matriarch enamoured with France, a trusting sister, and a maid who guards the family’s secrets. Tarek opens a pharmacy in the underprivileged district of Moqattam, which retivalises his sense of purpose until he meets local resident, Ali. An unexpected friendship blossoms between them, and Tarek takes Ali under his wing. How can someone who has nothing offer so much to someone who appears to have it all? Soon, a guest of freedom will disrupt Tarek’s security and turn upside down.
‘Ce que je sais de toi’ is a beatifully written debut novel rich with humor, sensuality, and finesse. It invites readers into the bustling Levantin society of Cairo, spanning from Nasser’s reign to the 21st century.
- - - - - - - -
Crédit photo:
EricChacour_2022_©JustineLatour
MiguelBonnefoy_©ÉditionsPayot&Rivages
- - - - - - - -
