Philippe Djian

Philippe Djian (born 3 June 1949) is a French author of Armenian descent. He received the 2012 Prix Interallié for his novel *Oh...* (translated into English as *Elle*).

Djian graduated from ESJ Paris. After a period of traveling and working various jobs, he published a collection of short stories, *50 contre 1* (1981), followed by the novels *Bleu comme l'enfer* (1982) and *Zone érogène* (1984). He gained wider recognition with his subsequent works, including *37°2 le matin* (1985), *Maudit Manège* (1986), *Echine* (1988), *Crocodiles* (short stories) (1989), *Lent dehors* (1991), *Sotos* (1993), and *Assassins* (1994).

Five of his novels have been adapted into films: *37°2 le matin* (1986; English title *Betty Blue*), directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix; *Bleu comme l'enfer* (1986; English title *Blue Hell*), directed by Yves Boisset; *Impardonnables* (2011; English title *Unforgivable*), directed by André Téchiné; *Love Is the Perfect Crime* (2013; original title *L'Amour est un crime parfait*), directed by Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu; and *Oh...* (as *Elle*, 2016), directed by Paul Verhoeven. Djian also co-wrote the screenplay of *Ne fais pas ça* (2004) with Luc Bondy.

TV presenter Antoine De Caunes introduced Djian to Swiss singer Stephan Eicher, and the two became friends. Djian subsequently wrote lyrics for some of Eicher's songs in French.

Djian has frequently moved, including from Boston to Florence. He now resides in Biarritz and, on average, writes a novel every 18 months. In 2005, he began a literary series titled *Doggy Bag*, structured in six parts and inspired by American TV series.