Seminars/EventsDeauville Books & Music Festival

Festival Livres & Musiques de Deauville

DEAUVILLE ON THE ROAD AGAIN

12TH FESTIVAL - 9-11 May 2015

Reaching out to the world. That is the recurrent annual theme of the Deauville Books & Music Festival. Sixty encounters make this a distinct type of rendezvous: a major voyage in literature to discover how music, whatever its origins, inspires writers. This year, we're heading to AMERICA? the homeland of Henry James, Emily Dickinson and Bob Dylan. Deauville, whose heart has been beating to the rhythm of American cinema for forty years, is opening its doors to the writers and the musicians who are inspiring and influencing today's whole cultural landscape: from the beat generation via jazz to the new New York scene, the music that accompanied 20th Century American literary development.

For 3 days, from 9th to 11th May, the city will vibrate to the rhythms of writers, musicians, and creators from the US, or inspired by them; the programme is LARGER THAN LIFE!

# THE AMERICAN DREAM
Who has never dreamed of taking Route 66 in a flamboyant red convertible, to the sound of the Mamas and the Papas? Of sliding down the nose of one of the Mount Rushmore presidents, just like in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest? Of being proposed to on the top storey of the Empire State Building? In short, who hasn't dreamed the American dream? In Deauville, the transatlantic expedition takes all forms: debates, concerts, workshops, encounters, readings, musical readings, exhibitions etc. The festival explores the close links that bind American literature and music, from all angles. American authors and artists will address these topics alongside the French writers for whom this culture is a source of inspiration.

Among this American programme's themes, three new cycles are being launched. Intimacy is to the fore in a new "Letters from America" cycle focussing on correspondence, which will be based around readings: the letters of Emily Dickinson and the correspondence between Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. The festival is also launching a special 'whodunit' section

"Deauville Crime" (Noir sur Deauville) concocted in collusion with Aurélien Masson, the editor of the famous Série Noire published by Gallimard. Lastly, the festival will for the first time give the floor to the translators.

Some 100 special guests, including:

SAPPHIRE
Poet, novelist and performer, Sapphire's reputation developed around her activism in favour of women's rights and gay rights. The publication of her first novel, Push, caused a stir. It was adapted for cinema by Lee Daniels, with the title Precious. This is the first time she has come France to champion her work.
GREIL MARCUS
Essayist and rock critic, he is the outstanding theoretician of American pop culture, an eminent Bob Dylan specialist, and the wielder of an extraordinary pen; he will shed light on the powerful links connecting literature and music in the USA.
RICHARD HELL He is without doubt one of the most influential members of the American punk movement. He founded the group Richard Hell and the Voidoids, whose song Blank Generation would be the anthem of an entire generation. Beyond being an icon of the 1970s New York underground, Richard Hell is a poet and a writer. His presence in Deauville is exceptional.
ELLIOTT MURPHY
Not only is Elliott Murphy an exemplary performer and musician, often associated with Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, but also a brilliant writer. In his own words, "Rock 'n' Roll is my drug, literature is my religion."
DOUGLAS KENNEDY
Born in New York, Douglas Kennedy, the Frenchest American writer, is a music enthusiast since his childhood. Especially classical music. On the occasion of the publication of his new novel (in early May by Belfond publisher), Douglas Kennedy will be in Deauville for an exceptional meeting to evoke with the Norman public his background and three themes particularly close to Deauville: literature, music and film.

They will also be there: Renata Adler, Jean-Claude Bouillon-Baker, Theo Hakola, Nicolas Repac Fabrice Gaignault, Pachomius Thiellement, Jean-Claude Zylberstein, Caryl Ferey.

# OVER THE RAINBOW: ROULEZ JEUNESSE!

Young audiences are one of the strong elements of the identity of the Books & Music festival that has, since its inception, been true to its commitment to give young readers a taste for literature. A three-day programme with its own dedicated space! The now gigantic TEENAGERS' PRIZE will be followed by 2,500 pupils from Normandy this year, over a period of several months. They will all be present at the prize-winners' awards ceremony.
They can get together in the space entirely dedicated to young readers, redesigned in 2014 around a young people's bookshop, publishers, a space for meeting authors and illustrators, workshops, and digital equipment provided thanks to assistance from the Montreuil Young People's Press and Book Fair (Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse de Montreuil).
In 2015 - this year for the first time - Gallimard Jeunesse will be the guest of honour for a focus on its Music department, its history and the variety and diversity of its catalogue.

Established young people's writers:

Marion Billet // Paule du Bouchet // Mikaël Bourguoin (Prix des Ados) // Vincent Brunner (Prix des Ados) // Jean Claverie // Aurélie Gerlach // Damien Luce (Prix des Ados) // Matthieu Mariolle (Prix des Ados) // Yann Walcker

# DANS LE VENT : Deauville's Literary Prize

With its literary prize, the festival explores French literary production and honours contemporary authors for whom music is at the heart of their creation - thematically, as a language, rhythmically, and as mentor. Since its creation in 2004, at the same time as the festival, the Prix de la Ville has been awarded, amongst others, to authors such as Alain Gerber, Jean Echenoz, Valentine Goby, Stéphane Héaume and Gilles Leroy.
The prize-winning book is chosen by a jury of novelists and journalists led by Jérôme Garcin. In 2015, the jury will be welcoming three new members: Arnaud Cathrine, Stéphane Héaume and Scholastique Mukasonga. The selection will be announced in mid-January.
In 2015, the festival will highlight this body of creative work, both through the presence of the authors selected for the award, and by the significant presence of French writers for whom music is an inspiring theme. In 2012, the prize was awarded to Lydie Salvayre - who won the Goncourt prize in 2014 for Pas Pleurer. She had just released Hymne, a novel-style tribute to Jimi Hendrix. In 2010, the festival recognised David Foenkinos, recently the winner of the prestigious Renaudot prize. He had won the Readers' Prize for Lennon.

# UNFORGETTABLE

Books & Music is 3 days of literary programme through which music is interwoven. It includes 60 entirely free gatherings: readings, concerts, encounters, debates, workshops and signing sessions. The programme eschews elitism, but is nonetheless expectant and demanding. Updates on www.livresetmusiques.fr

# Contacts & Practical

The Books & Music festival is an event organised by Deauville City Council. It is hosted at the Centre International de Deauville and in several locations around the town.
Raphaëlle Riviàre - Festival manager - 02 31 14 69 39 / 06 25 16 04 16 - [email protected]
Delphine Barré - Communication manager - 02 31 14 69 42 / 06 87 52 65 81 - [email protected]
Press - Agence Verbatim
Florence Rosenfeld: 01 44 61 70 26 - 06 07 01 65 65 / [email protected]
Elodie Vasseur: 01 84 17 75 41/ 06 25 89 44 31 / [email protected]

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