Prix Sorcières
2 appearances
-
Edition 15 (2000) Winner
-
Edition 23 (2008) Winner
Jean-Claude Mourlevat
ジャン＝クロード・ムルヴァ
Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1952-03-22 （Ambert, France）
- Nationality
- French
- Languages
- French
- Residence History
- Auvergne (childhood) → Blaise Pascal boarding school → Strasbourg (higher education) → Toulouse (higher education) → Bonn (study/stay) → Paris (study/cultural activities) → La Bourboule (teaching) → Hamburg (teaching) → Cany-Barville (teaching) → Near Saint-Étienne (current residence) → San Francisco (writing residency: 2019)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Children's/YA author, German teacher, Actor, Theatre director
- Active Years
- 1997-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher education institution in Strasbourg | — | — | 二次教育資格（ドイツ語） | — | France |
| Bonn (study/stay) | — | — | — | — | Germany |
Higher education institution in Strasbourg
Degree:
二次教育資格（ドイツ語）
Country:
France
Studied in Strasbourg, Toulouse, Bonn and Paris
Bonn (study/stay)
Country:
Germany
Recorded as part of study/stay abroad
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award | — | — | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) | Winner |
| 2000 | Prix Sorcières | L'Enfant océan (The Pull of the Ocean) | — | Prix Sorcières committee | Winner |
| 2002 | Prix des Incorruptibles | La rivière à l'envers | — | Prix des Incorruptibles | Winner |
| 2005 | Prix Bernard Versele | La balade de Cornebique | — | Prix Bernard Versele | Winner |
| 2006 | Prix jeunesse France Télévisions | Le Combat d'hiver | — | France Télévisions | Winner |
| 2007 | Mildred L. Batchelder Award | The Pull of the Ocean (English translation of L'Enfant océan) | — | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) | Winner |
| 2011 | Prix Utopiales Européen Jeunesse | Terrienne | — | Utopiales (festival) | Winner |
| 2019 | Prix des libraires du Québec | Jefferson | — | Quebec booksellers | Winner |
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
2021
Organization:
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)
Result:
Winner
Prix Sorcières
2000
Work:
L'Enfant océan (The Pull of the Ocean)
Organization:
Prix Sorcières committee
Result:
Winner
Prix des Incorruptibles
2002
Work:
La rivière à l'envers
Organization:
Prix des Incorruptibles
Result:
Winner
Prix Bernard Versele
2005
Work:
La balade de Cornebique
Organization:
Prix Bernard Versele
Result:
Winner
Prix jeunesse France Télévisions
2006
Work:
Le Combat d'hiver
Organization:
France Télévisions
Result:
Winner
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
2007
Work:
The Pull of the Ocean (English translation of L'Enfant océan)
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result:
Winner
Prix Utopiales Européen Jeunesse
2011
Work:
Terrienne
Organization:
Utopiales (festival)
Result:
Winner
Prix des libraires du Québec
2019
Work:
Jefferson
Organization:
Quebec booksellers
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 39 (2007) Winner
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 19 (2021) Winner
Works
Major Works
L'Enfant océan (The Pull of the Ocean)
1999 Children's literature / FantasyThe story of two orphaned boys who embark on an adventure toward the sea. Themes include friendship, freedom, and coming-of-age.
FriendshipComing of ageAdventureNature
Translations
- English translation: The Pull of the Ocean (2006)
La rivière à l'envers
2000 Children's literature / FantasyA tale following Tomek (and a companion volume about Hannah) on a quest related to a mysterious 'river that runs backwards.' It uses a fable-like structure and deals with hope.
JourneyHopeFriendshipWonder
Le Combat d'hiver
2006 Young adult / Dystopian elementsA story about young people resisting an oppressive regime and their growth; a YA novel addressing social issues.
ResistanceComing of ageFreedomJustice
Translations
- English translation: Winter Song / Winter's End (2008/2009)
Terrienne
2011 Young adultSet against a different-world backdrop, this novel questions identity and rights, carrying strong social themes.
IdentityRightsSocial issues
Jefferson
2018 Children's literature / Middle-gradeA recent work focusing on Jefferson, his family, and social relationships. Noted for empathetic character portrayals.
FamilyEmpathySociety
Translations
- English translation: Jefferson (2020)
Bibliography
- Histoire de l'enfant et de l’œuf (1997)
- La Balafre (1998)
- A comme voleur (1998)
- L'Enfant océan (1999)
- La rivière à l'envers: Tomek (2000)
- La rivière à l'envers: Hannah (2002)
- La balade de Cornebique (2004)
- Le Combat d'hiver (2006)
- Le chagrin du roi mort (2009)
- Terrienne (2011)
- Jefferson (2018)
Translations of Works
- English translation: The Pull of the Ocean (L'Enfant océan)
- English translation: Winter Song / Winter's End (Le Combat d'hiver)
- English translation: Jefferson (Jefferson)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Fairy-tale and fable-inspired styleFantasy-influenced narrativeConcise, emotionally resonant prose
- Recurring Motifs
- JourneysNatureLonely/outsider protagonistsGrowth and hope
Legacy
Jean-Claude Mourlevat is one of France's notable children's and YA authors, recipient of numerous awards, and translated into over twenty languages (including Braille). He is praised for his fable-like storytelling and engagement with social themes.
Archives
- Archives on official website and publishers' records
Quotes
-
Literature became my salvation.
Source: Interview (Ricochet, 2003) (2003)
Trivia
- His books have been translated into over twenty languages, including Braille.
- He has won multiple reader- and jury-selected literary awards (e.g., Prix Sorcières, Prix des Incorruptibles, ALMA 2021).
- He previously worked as a mime, clown and actor, and later as a theatre director.
- In 2019 he took part in a six-week writing residency in San Francisco funded by the Institut français.