‘Meet the Writer: Leïla Slimani & Olivier Guez’

Two prominent French writers discuss their hybrid identities. One was born in Morocco and alternates between two countries and cultures; the other has Jewish roots, was born on the German-French border but is above all European. Plenty enough subject for conversation, in this year of French presidential elections, as they look at the age-old dream of liberté, egalité, fraternité.  

Leïla Slimani became world famous with Sex and Lies, a collection of interviews that expose the hypocrisy of sexual morality in Morocco. She then achieved renown as a writer with her novel Lullaby, winner of the Prix Goncourt, and this spring sees the publication of Regardez-nous danser (Watch us Dance), the second volume of her trilogy The country of the others. The title is a reference to the feeling she has always had of living in someone else's country.   

Olivier Guez first received international attention with his novel The Disappearance of Josef Mengele, winner of the Prix Renaudot. He has written on many subjects, from dictators to football. Very active in the literary and societal debate, this spring he published Grand Tour, a book in which writers from 27 European countries describe a place in their country.    

Moderated by Pascal Claude, journalist, host of « Dans quel Monde on vit » and « Et dieu dans tout ça ? » on La Première.