Mounsi
Encyclopedia
Mounsi is a French novelist and singer, born in Kabylie
, Algeria
. Aged seven, his father brought him to live in France, growing up in the red-belt suburb of Nanterre
in Paris. Petty crime saw him in borstal, where he discovered his voice as an author after reading the poetry of François Villon
.
His only work published in English translation is The Demented Dance (Black Amber, 2003), which was originally published in France in 1986. The book draws heavily on Mounsi's growing up amidst petty crime in the red-belt suburbs and could be seen as a companion piece for films like La Haine
. The book was released to substantial acclaim in the UK and like his other French novels, is the recipient of a number of literary prizes. In 2004, he was presented with the inaugural 3AM Good Sex Prize at the Stuckism International Gallery
in London.
His other books include: La Cendre des Villes awarded the Lauréat de la Bourse du Centre National du Livre, Le Voyage des Ames awarded the Prix de l'Astrolabe-étonnants voyageurs, Territoire d'outre-ville and Les sauvageons expliqués aux fils des ministres. Dubbed the 'Boris Vian of the Inner City' by Le Nouvel Observateur, Mounsi has also written a number of plays and recorded three albums for the French label Disques Motors.
Kabylie
Kabylie or Kabylia , is a region in the north of Algeria.It is part of the Tell Atlas and is located at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Kabylia covers several provinces of Algeria: the whole of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia , most of Bouira and parts of the wilayas of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Jijel,...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. Aged seven, his father brought him to live in France, growing up in the red-belt suburb of Nanterre
Nanterre
Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located west of the center of Paris.Nanterre is the capital of the Hauts-de-Seine department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Nanterre....
in Paris. Petty crime saw him in borstal, where he discovered his voice as an author after reading the poetry of François Villon
François Villon
François Villon was a French poet, thief, and vagabond. He is perhaps best known for his Testaments and his Ballade des Pendus, written while in prison...
.
His only work published in English translation is The Demented Dance (Black Amber, 2003), which was originally published in France in 1986. The book draws heavily on Mounsi's growing up amidst petty crime in the red-belt suburbs and could be seen as a companion piece for films like La Haine
La Haine
La Haine is a 1995 French black-and-white film written, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. It is commonly released under its French title in the English-speaking world, although its American VHS release was entitled Hate. It is about three teenage friends and their struggle to live in...
. The book was released to substantial acclaim in the UK and like his other French novels, is the recipient of a number of literary prizes. In 2004, he was presented with the inaugural 3AM Good Sex Prize at the Stuckism International Gallery
Stuckism International Gallery
The Stuckism International Gallery was the gallery of the Stuckist art movement. It was open 2002 to 2005 in Shoreditch, and run by Charles Thomson, the co-founder of Stuckism...
in London.
His other books include: La Cendre des Villes awarded the Lauréat de la Bourse du Centre National du Livre, Le Voyage des Ames awarded the Prix de l'Astrolabe-étonnants voyageurs, Territoire d'outre-ville and Les sauvageons expliqués aux fils des ministres. Dubbed the 'Boris Vian of the Inner City' by Le Nouvel Observateur, Mounsi has also written a number of plays and recorded three albums for the French label Disques Motors.