Clément Lépidis (1920–1997) was a French novelist of Greek descent. He was born Kleanthis Tsélébidis (Greek : Κλεάνθης Τσελεμπίδης) into a Greek Orthodox family that had settled in Paris.
Lépidis spent his childhood and adolescence in the Parisian neighbourhood of Belleville. His father, like many Greek and Armenian refugees, worked in the shoe trade. Clément too tried the shoe trade at one point working with brands, as he later related in his books, such as Ma vie en chantier, L'Arménien and La Main rouge. He tried several other careers, e.g., stockbroker's clerk, photographer, radio wireman, sales representative and cashier. His work experiences inspired the book The Tribulations of a Commercial Traveller. Afterwards, he devoted himself to painting [1] and literature.
Among his friends were the photographer Robert Doisneau, the accordionist Jo Privat, whose biography he wrote, and the wrestler Tasso Miades. Lépidis loved his fellow Parisians. He described their happy and friendly character. He also wrote of the dark side of Paris during the German occupation when many Jews and Armenians, his friends and neighbours from Belleville, were rounded up. These he depicted in the novel The Armenian.
At his death in 1997, he left behind many works of literature, including poetry, short stories and novels. His work was rooted in both the Mediterranean and his own Belleville neighbourhood.
The Prix des Deux Magots is a major French literary prize. It is presented to new works, and is generally awarded to works that are more off-beat and less conventional than those that receive the more mainstream Prix Goncourt.
Belleville is a neighbourhood of Paris, France, parts of which lie in four different arrondissements. The major portion of Belleville straddles the borderline between the 20th arrondissement and the 19th along its main street, the Rue de Belleville. The remainder lies in the 10th and 11th arrondissements.
Les Deux Magots is a famous café and restaurant situated at 6, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris' 6th arrondissement, France. It once had a reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual elite of the city. It is now a popular tourist destination. Its historical reputation is derived from the patronage of Surrealist artists, intellectuals to the likes of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, as well as young writers, such as Ernest Hemingway. Other patrons included Albert Camus, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, Bertolt Brecht, Julia Child and the American writers James Baldwin, Chester Himes and Richard Wright.
Antoine Blondin was a French writer.
Michel del Castillo born in 1933 in Madrid is a French writer.
Joseph Constant was a Franco-Russian Israeli sculptor, painter and writer of Jewish origin. As a sculptor, he adopted the name "Joseph Constant", as a writer he used the pseudonym "Michel Matveev".
The Rue de Seine is a street in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It is one of the most sought after streets in Paris due to its history and very close proximity to the Louvre and other famous Parisian landmarks.
Georges Pillement was a French writer, translator and photographer. He was born in Mayet in the Loire region. He won the Prix des Deux Magots for his novel Plaisir d'amour in 1937.
Pierre Jean Launay was a French writer. He was born in Carrouges in the Lower Normandy region. His novel Léonie la bienheureuse met with notable success, winning both the Prix Renaudot and the Prix des Deux Magots in 1938.
Olivier Séchan was a French writer best known for his children’s books. He was born in Montpellier and died in Paris at the age of 95. He was the son of Louis Séchan and brother of Edmond Séchan.
André Hardellet was a French poet and writer. He was the 1974 winner of the Prix des Deux Magots.
Une adolescence en Gueldre is a 2005 Belgian novel by Jean-Claude Pirotte that won the Prix des Deux Magots in 2006.
Christian Rene Marcel Coffinet was a French journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. He was the winner of the prix des Deux Magots in 1949.
Pauline Dreyfus is a French woman of letters, winner of the prix des Deux Magots in January 2013 for her novel Immortel, enfin. That was the first time the prize was awarded unanimously by the jury.
Anthony Palou is a French writer. From 1991 to 1997, Anthony Palou was Jean-Edern Hallier's private secretary.
Bernard Chapuis is a French writer and journalist.
Stéphane Hoffmann is a French writer.
Bruno de Cessole is a French writer and literary critic.
Étienne de Montety is a French writer and journalist.
Serge Joncour is a French novelist and screenwriter. He was born in Paris and studied philosophy at university. His debut novel UV was published in 1998. Notable books include: