Alison Flood in the Independent reports on the top twenty bestselling novels worldwide in 2008. Khaled Hosseini and Stieg Larsson dominated the bestseller lists around the world, but the success of Barbery's Elegance of the Hedgehog is nothing to sneeze at: according to the Independent's sources, it was the 5th top-selling work of fiction in 2008.

This is remarkable for two reasons. First, because as Flood notes in her piece, "the lists make depressing reading for fans of literature in translation...Less than 10% of authors make the transition to another country." Muriel Barbery is one of the exceptions, one of the lucky 10, having appeared on bestseller lists in half a dozen European countries and now also in the US. Secondly, the Hedgehog's success in most of these countries has largely been thanks to word-of-mouth and not expensive marketing campaigns, movie tie-ins, or hyper-exposure of the author (since the very first inklings of success Muriel Barbery has been in semi-reclusion in northern Japan, only very rarely giving interviews).

All up, an extraordinary success story featuring a disarmingly cute hero





January 16 2009

Since her debut on the French literary scene a little more than a decade ago, Amélie Nothomb has published a novel a year, every year. Her edgy fiction, unconventional thinking, and public persona have combined to transform her into a worldwide literary sensation. Amélie's books have been translated into over fifteen different languages and been awarded numerous prizes including the French Academy’s 1999 Grand Prix for the Novel, the René-Fallet prize,  the Alain-Fournier prize, and the Grand Prix Giono in 2008.



Boston

Tuesday the 3rd of February at 3 p.m.
Boston - French Library/Alliance Française
Amélie Nothomb reading and in conversation with Barbara Bouquegneau. Event in English and French.
French Library / Alliance Française of Boston
53 Marlborough Street, Boston
More information: tel. 617-832-4469

Tuesday the 3rd of February at 6 p.m.
Boston - MIT, Chemical Engineering Building
Amélie Nothomb in conversation with Laure Anne Ventouras. Event in English.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chemical Eng.
Room 66-110
77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA
More information: tel. 617-832-4469

Wednesday the 4th of February at 2 p.m.
Boston - Boston University
Amélie Nothomb - Reading and Discussion. Event in French.
Boston University - College of Arts and Science
Room 213
725 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Kenmore Square or Boston University T

Wednesday the 4th of February at 7 p.m.
Boston (Brookline) - Brookline Booksmith
Amélie Nothomb together with Europa Editions editor Michael Reynolds. Reading and conversation followed by book signing. Event in English.
Brookline Booksmith
279 Harvard St. Brookline
For more information: (617) 566-6660


Toronto

Thursday the 5th of February at 6:30 p.m.
Toronto – Alliance Francaise, Toronto
Amélie Nothomb reading and conversation with Pascal Michelucci, followed by Q&A. Event in French.
Alliance Francaise, Toronto
24 Spadina Road
Toronto, ON
More information: 416 922 2014

Friday the 6th of February at 6:30 p.m.
Toronto – Toronto Public Library, Northern District Branch
Amélie Nothomb reading and conversation with author Martha Baillie. Event in English
Toronto Public Library, Northern District Branch
40 Orchard View Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1B9
more information: 416-393-7610


Washington DC

Saturday the 7th of February at 3 p.m.
Washington DC – Alliance Francaise, Washington
Amélie Nothomb in conversation with critic and journalist Claude Porsell. Event in French. Followed by Q&A and book signing.
Alliance Francaise, Washington DC
2142 Wyoming Avenue NW
Washington, DC
more information: 202.234.7911


Philadelphia

Monday the 9th of February at 6:30 p.m.
Philadelphia - University of Pennsylvania Bookstore
Amélie Nothomb in conversation with philosopher and Philadelphia Inquirer literary critic Carlin Romano. Reading and conversation followed by book signing. Event in English.
U of Penn Bookstore
3601 Walnut St - University Sq
Philadelphia
For more information: (215) 898-7595


New York

Tuesday the 10th of February at 7 p.m.
Brooklyn - Melville House Bookstore
Amélie Nothomb - Performance and conversation followed by book signing and reception. Event in English.
Melville House
145 Plymouth St, at Pearl St
DUMBO, Brooklyn
For more information: 718.722.9204

Wednesday the 11th of February at 7 p.m.
New York - La Maison Française, NYU
Reading and presentation. Introdution by Francine Goldenhar, director of the Maison Française. Amélie Nothomb in conversation with Laureline Amanieux. Event in French.
La Maison Française, New York University
16 Washington Mews
New York, NY 10003
For more information: Tel: (212) 998-8750

Thursday the 12th of February at 7 p.m.
New York - McNally Jackson Bookstore
As part of McNally Jackson's Author/Editor series, Amélie Nothomb in conversation with Europa Editions editor Michael Reynolds. Reading, conversation, book signing. Event in English.
McNally Jackson
52 Prince St.
(b/t Lafayette & Mulberry)
New York
For more information: 212.274.1160




January 08 2009