At its meeting of Thursday, October 24, 2013, the French Academy has indicated that it had retained the application of Canadian author Dany Laferrière, born in Haiti, and that of writers Arthur Pauly and Jean-Claude Perrier, for chair #2, previously occupied by Hector Bianciotti died in 2012, Haiti Libre reports.

The “Immortals” will elect the next academic, Thursday, Dec. 12. This chair was once occupied by another author of Haitian descent, Alexandre Dumas fils, and by Montesquieu.

Born in Port-au-Prince April 13, 1953, the novelist, poet, writer and filmmaker Dany Laferrière [Windsor Klébert Laferrière] left Haiti in 1974 to settle in Quebec. He currently lives between Miami and Montreal. Author of more than twenty books, he received the Prix Medicis in 2009 and the Grand Prix of Montreal Book for his novel “L’Énigme du retour”. His first novel, “Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer” published in 1985, was translated into many languages ​​and adapted for the screen. He received the RFO Prize in 2002 with his book “Cette grenade dans la main du jeune Nègre est-elle une arme ou un fruit ?” Nominated for the Prix Renaudot with “Vers le Sud” (2006) , also adapted for the cinema. This year, Dany has published “Journal d’un écrivain en pyjama” at Grasset.

For the original report go to http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9730-haiti-culture-dany-laferriere-candidate-for-the-french-academy.html