Sébastien Japrisot
Encyclopedia
Sébastien Japrisot was a French
author, screenwriter and film director, born in Marseille
. His pseudonym
was an anagram
of Jean-Baptiste Rossi, his real name. Japrisot has been nicknamed "the Graham Greene
of France".
Famous in the Francophony, he was little known in the English-speaking world, though a number of his novels have been translated into English
and have been made into films.
's novels. He pursued a successful career in advertising and publicity.
In 1962, he had an intriguing idea for a crime novel. As he did not feel easy about his entry into this new field he used an anagram of his own name as his pseudonym. However, the reception of The 10.30 from Marseille left no one in doubt that a great crime writer had made his debut. The book was quickly made into a film by Costa-Gavras
starring Yves Montand
, Simone Signoret
, Catherine Allégret, Jacques Perrin
, etc.
His second mystery was Trap for Cinderella. This won the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière
for 1963. The film starred Dany Carrel
, and Madeleine Robinson.
He followed this with The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun, which won him a second major French award - Le Prix d'Honneur 1966. In England it won the Crime Writer's Association Silver Dagger awarded for the best Thriller published in the United Kingdom
in 1968 by a foreign writer.
He was a scriptwriter and film director. One Deadly Summer was made into a film starring Isabelle Adjani
. A Very Long Engagement was an international bestseller and won the Prix Interallié.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
author, screenwriter and film director, born in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. His pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
was an anagram
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
of Jean-Baptiste Rossi, his real name. Japrisot has been nicknamed "the Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
of France".
Famous in the Francophony, he was little known in the English-speaking world, though a number of his novels have been translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and have been made into films.
Biography
Sébastien Japrisot made his mark as an author at seventeen, when his novel Les Mal Partis was published in France and America. He followed this with outstanding translations of J. D. SalingerJ. D. Salinger
Jerome David Salinger was an American author, best known for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, as well as his reclusive nature. His last original published work was in 1965; he gave his last interview in 1980....
's novels. He pursued a successful career in advertising and publicity.
In 1962, he had an intriguing idea for a crime novel. As he did not feel easy about his entry into this new field he used an anagram of his own name as his pseudonym. However, the reception of The 10.30 from Marseille left no one in doubt that a great crime writer had made his debut. The book was quickly made into a film by Costa-Gavras
Costa-Gavras
Costa-Gavras, is a Greek filmmaker, who lives and works in France, best known for films with overt political themes, most famously the fast-paced thriller, Z...
starring Yves Montand
Yves Montand
-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
, Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret was a French cinema actress often hailed as one of France's greatest movie stars. She became the first French person to win an Academy Award, for her role in Room at the Top...
, Catherine Allégret, Jacques Perrin
Jacques Perrin
Jacques Perrin is a French actor and filmmaker. He is occasionally credited as Jacques Simonet. Simonet was his father's name and Perrin his mother's.-Life and career:...
, etc.
His second mystery was Trap for Cinderella. This won the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière
Grand Prix de Littérature Policière
The Grand Prix de Littérature Policière is a French literary prize founded in 1948 by author and literary critic Maurice-Bernard Endrèbe. It is the most prestigious award for crime and detective fiction in France...
for 1963. The film starred Dany Carrel
Dany Carrel
-Selected filmography:* Dortoir des grandes * Porte des Lilas * Girls for the Summer * Mill of the Stone Women * Une souris chez les hommes * The Hands of Orlac * A Trip for Cindarella...
, and Madeleine Robinson.
He followed this with The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun, which won him a second major French award - Le Prix d'Honneur 1966. In England it won the Crime Writer's Association Silver Dagger awarded for the best Thriller published in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1968 by a foreign writer.
He was a scriptwriter and film director. One Deadly Summer was made into a film starring Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Yasmine Adjani is a French film actress and singer. Adjani has appeared in 30 films since 1970. She holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five, for Possession , One Deadly Summer , Camille Claudel , Queen Margot and Skirt Day...
. A Very Long Engagement was an international bestseller and won the Prix Interallié.
Novels
- Les Mal Partis - Prix de l'Unanimité 1966 (as J.-B. Rossi, Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, 1950)
- Visages de l'amour et de la haine (as J.-B. Rossi, in Réalités n° 57,1950)
- L'Odyssexe (illustrated album by Trez, as J.-B. Rossi, Éd. Originale Denoël, 1965)
- L'Été meurtrier - Prix des Deux-Magots 1978, Prix de l'Académie suédoise 1978 (Éd. Originale Denoël, 1977). NB : film adaptation by Jean Becker, with Isabelle AdjaniIsabelle AdjaniIsabelle Yasmine Adjani is a French film actress and singer. Adjani has appeared in 30 films since 1970. She holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five, for Possession , One Deadly Summer , Camille Claudel , Queen Margot and Skirt Day...
, Alain SouchonAlain SouchonAlain Souchon is a French singer, songwriter and actor. He has released 15 albums and has played roles in seven films.-Profile:...
… - La Passion des femmes (Éd. Originale DenoëlÉditions DenoëlÉditions Denoël is a French publishing house founded in 1930 by the Belgian Robert Denoël and the American Bernard Steele .Called the Éditions Denoël-Steel during its first few years, it had its first success in 1932 with Voyage au bout de la nuit by Louis-Ferdinand Céline...
, 1986) - Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Prix Interallié 1991 (Éd. Originale Denoël, 1991). NB : film adaptation by Jean-Pierre JeunetJean-Pierre Jeunet-Life and career:Jean-Pierre Jeunet was born in Roanne, Loire, France. He bought his first camera at the age of 17 and made short films while studying animation at Cinémation Studios. He befriended Marc Caro, a designer and comic book artist who became his longtime collaborator and...
.
Crime novels
- Compartiment tueurs (Éd. Originale Denoël, coll. "Crime/club" n° 203, 1962). NB : film adaptation by Costa-GavrasCosta-GavrasCosta-Gavras, is a Greek filmmaker, who lives and works in France, best known for films with overt political themes, most famously the fast-paced thriller, Z...
, with Simone SignoretSimone SignoretSimone Signoret was a French cinema actress often hailed as one of France's greatest movie stars. She became the first French person to win an Academy Award, for her role in Room at the Top...
and Yves MontandYves Montand-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
, - Piège pour Cendrillon - Grand Prix de littérature policière 1963 (Éd. Originale Denoël, coll. "Crime/club" n° 209, 1963). NB : film adaptation by André CayatteAndré CayatteAndré Cayatte was a French New Wave filmmaker and lawyer, who became known for his films centering on themes of crime, justice, and moral responsibility, themes which Cayatte persisted in affirming regardless of changing contemporary attitudes.Some of Cayatte's earlier films that covered these...
, - La Dame dans l'auto avec des lunettes et un fusil (Éd. Originale Denoël, 1966). NB : film adaptation by Anatole LitvakAnatole LitvakAnatole Litvak was a Ukrainian-born filmmaker who wrote, directed, and produced films in a various countries and languages...
.
Screenplays
- La Machine à parler d'amour (as J.-B. Rossi, L'Avant-scène cinéma n° 66, 01/1967)
- Adieu l'ami (Éd. Originale Denoël, 1968). NB : directed by Jean VautrinJean VautrinJean Vautrin, Jean Vautrin, (John Herman) Jean Vautrin, (John Herman) (born May 17, 1933 Pagny-sur-Moselle is a French writer, filmmaker, and screenwriter.-Life:After studying literature at Auxerre, he took first place in the Id'HEC competition. He studied French literature at the University of...
, with Charles BronsonCharles BronsonCharles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
and Alain DelonAlain DelonAlain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
, - La Course du lièvre à travers les champs (Éd. Originale Denoël, 1972). NB : directed by René Clément, with Emmanuelle BéartEmmanuelle BéartEmmanuelle Béart is a French film actress, who has appeared in over 50 film and television productions since 1972. Béart won a César Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film Manon des Sources . She has been nominated a further seven times for Most Promising Actress and Best Actress.- Early...
. - Le Passager de la pluie (Éd. Originale Denoël, 1992). NB : directed by René Clément.
Translations in French
- Hopalong Cassidy entre en jeu (Hopalong Cassidy With the Trail Herd), novel by Clarence E. MulfordClarence E. MulfordClarence E. Mulford was the author of Hopalong Cassidy, written in 1904. He wrote it in Fryeburg, Maine, United States, and the many stories and 28 novels were followed by radio, feature film, television, and comic book versions. Clarence was born in Streator, Illinois. He died of complications...
as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 1, 1951) - Hopalong Cassidy et la couvée de l’aigle (Hopalong Cassidy With the Eagle’s Brood), novel by Clarence E. MulfordClarence E. MulfordClarence E. Mulford was the author of Hopalong Cassidy, written in 1904. He wrote it in Fryeburg, Maine, United States, and the many stories and 28 novels were followed by radio, feature film, television, and comic book versions. Clarence was born in Streator, Illinois. He died of complications...
, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 2, 1951). - Hopalong Cassidy trouve un double (Hopalong Cassidy Returns), novel by Clarence E. Mulford, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 3, 1951)
- Hopalong Cassidy : les Hors-la-loi de West Fork (Hopalong Cassidy and the Rustlers of West Fork, 1951), novel by Louis L'AmourLouis L'AmourLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...
, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 6, 1951). (NB : the name of the author in the main title is "Tex Burns") - Pistes dans la nuit (Trails by Night), novel by Tom J. Hopkins, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 7, 1951).
- Hopalong Cassidy et les Compagnons du ranch 20 (Hopalong Cassidy, Bar 20, Rides Again) novel by Clarence E. Mulford, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 8, 1951).
- Hopalong Cassidy : le Shérif de Twin River (Hopalong Cassidy serves a write), novel by Clarence E. Mulford (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 10, 1952).
- Hopalong Cassidy : (Meurtres sur) la Piste des sept pins (Hopalong Cassidy and the Trail to Seven Pines, 1951), novel by Louis L'AmourLouis L'AmourLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...
, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 11, 1952). - La Poursuite blanche (Murder in the Outlands), novel by James Beardsley Hendryx, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 12, 1952).
- Hopalong Cassidy : Panique à Tasotal (Hopalong Cassidy and the Riders of High Rock, 1951), novel by Louis L'AmourLouis L'AmourLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...
as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 14, 1952). - Hopalong Cassidy : l’Inquiétant tireur (Hopalong Cassidy : Trouble Shooter, 1952), novel by Louis L'AmourLouis L'AmourLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...
, as Robert Huart (Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. "Arizona" n° 16, 1953) - L'Attrape-Cœurs (The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, alienation, language, and rebellion. It has been translated into almost all of the world's major...
, novel by J. D. SalingerJ. D. SalingerJerome David Salinger was an American author, best known for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, as well as his reclusive nature. His last original published work was in 1965; he gave his last interview in 1980....
(Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. « Pavillons », 1953) - Mais... qui a tué Harry ? (The Trouble with Harry), novel by Jack Trevor StoryJack Trevor StoryJack Trevor Story was a British novelist, publishing prolifically from the 1940s to the 1970s. His best-known work is the story for Alfred Hitchcock's comedy The Trouble With Harry, the Albert Argyle trilogy , and his Horace Spurgeon novels Jack Trevor Story (30 March 1917 - 5 December 1991) was a...
(Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, 1956) - Nouvelles (Nine StoriesNine Stories (Salinger)Nine Stories is a collection of short stories by American fiction writer J. D. Salinger released in May 1953. It includes two of his most famous short stories, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" and "For Esmé – with Love and Squalor". Nine Stories (1953) is a collection of short stories by American...
), J. D. SalingerJ. D. SalingerJerome David Salinger was an American author, best known for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, as well as his reclusive nature. His last original published work was in 1965; he gave his last interview in 1980....
(Éd. Originale Robert Laffont, coll. « Pavillons », 1961)
Collections
- Écrit par Jean-Baptiste Rossi (coéd. Denoël-Éditions Robert Laffont, 1987)
- Japrisot volume 1 (thriller novels) (Denoël, coll. "Des heures durant", 2003)
- Japrisot volume 2 (novels) (Denoël, coll. "Des heures durant", 2004)
English translations
| Year of publication in France | Original French title | English title / translation | Publication | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Les Mal Partis | The False Start = Awakening Transl. ? |
|
|
| 1950 | Visages de l'amour et de la haine | Faces of Love and Hatred | - | |
| 1962 | Compartiment tueurs | The 10:30 from Marseille = The Sleeping-car murders Transl. by Francis Price |
|
|
| 1963 | Piège pour Cendrillon | Trap for Cinderella Transl. by Helen Weaver |
|
|
| 1965 | L'Odyssexe | - | - | |
| 1966 | La Dame dans l'auto avec des lunettes et un fusil | The Lady in the car with glasses and a gun Transl. by Helen Weaver |
|
|
| 1968 | Adieu l'ami | Goodbye, friend Transl. by Patricia Allen Dreyfus |
|
|
| 1977 | L'Été meurtrier | One Deadly Summer Transl. by Alan Sheridan Alan Sheridan -Life:Born Alan Mark Sheridan-Smith, Sheridan read English at St Catharine's College, Cambridge before spending 5 years in Paris as English assistant at Lycée Henri IV and Lycée Condorcet. Returning to London, he briefly worked in publishing before becoming a freelance translator... |
|
|
| 1986 | La Passion des femmes | Women in Evidence = The Passion Of Women Transl. by Ros Schwartz |
|
|
| 1991 | Un long dimanche de fiançailles | A Very Long Engagement A Very Long Engagement A Very Long Engagement is a 2004 French romantic war film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou. It is a fictional tale about a young woman's desperate search for her fiancé who might have been killed on the battle of the Somme, during World War I... Transl. by Linda Coverdale |
|
|
| 1992 | Le Passager de la pluie | Rider on the Rain Rider on the Rain Rider on the Rain is a 1970 French mystery thriller film starring Charles Bronson, directed by René Clément, produced by Serge Silberman, with film music composed by Francis Lai.-Plot summary:... Transl. by Linda Coverdale |
|
Filmography
- 1965 : Piège pour Cendrillon aka Trap for Cinderella (Screenwriter)
- 1965 : The Sleeping Car MurdersThe Sleeping Car MurdersThe Sleeping Car Murders is a 1965 French film directed by Costa Gavras from the novel by Sébastien Japrisot. It stars Simone Signoret, Michel Piccoli, Yves Montand, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Catherine Allégret, Jacques Perrin, Charles Denner and Pascale Roberts.- Plot :Six people travel by train...
aka Compartiment tueurs (Original Foreign title) (Screenwriter) - 1968 : Honor Among Thieves aka Adieu l'ami (Original Foreign title) aka Farewell, Friend (UK title) aka So Long, Friend (Screenwriter)
- 1970 : Rider on the RainRider on the RainRider on the Rain is a 1970 French mystery thriller film starring Charles Bronson, directed by René Clément, produced by Serge Silberman, with film music composed by Francis Lai.-Plot summary:...
aka Le Passager de la pluie (French title) aka Passenger of the Rain (Screenwriter) - 1972 : La Course du lièvre à travers les champs aka And Hope to Die (U.S. title) (Screenwriter)
- 1975 : Story of O aka Histoire d'O (Original Foreign title) (Screenwriter)
- 1975 : Folle à tuer aka Mad Enough To Kill (Screenwriter)
- 1983 : One Deadly Summer aka L'Été meurtrier (Original Foreign title) (Screenwriter)
- 1987 : Juillet en septembre aka July In September [1988] (Director / Screenwriter)
- 1999 : Les Enfants du marais aka Children of the Marshland (Screenwriter)
- 2001 : Un crime au Paradis aka A Crime In Paradise (Screenwriter)
- 2004 : Un long dimanche de fiançailles aka A Very Long EngagementA Very Long EngagementA Very Long Engagement is a 2004 French romantic war film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou. It is a fictional tale about a young woman's desperate search for her fiancé who might have been killed on the battle of the Somme, during World War I...
by Jean-Pierre JeunetJean-Pierre Jeunet-Life and career:Jean-Pierre Jeunet was born in Roanne, Loire, France. He bought his first camera at the age of 17 and made short films while studying animation at Cinémation Studios. He befriended Marc Caro, a designer and comic book artist who became his longtime collaborator and...
Director - Filmography
- Juillet en septembre (1988)
- Les mal partis (as Jean-Baptiste Rossi) - Bad Starters (1976)
- L'idée fixe (1961)
- La machine à parler d'amour (as Jean-Baptiste Rossi) (1961)
Awards
- 1963 : Grand Prix de Littérature policière for Piège pour Cendrillon (Denoël, 1963).
- 1966 : Prix de l'Unanimité for Les Mal Partis
- 1966 : Prix d'Honneur for La Dame dans l'auto avec des lunettes et un fusil
- 1968 : Gold Dagger Award for the Best Crime Novel of the Year 1968 (Best Foreign) - The Crime Writer's Association for The Lady in the Car (Souvenir Press)
- 1978 : Prix des Deux-Magots for L'Été meurtrier (Denoël, 1977)
- 1981 : The Martin Beck Award - Svenska Deckarakademin (Académie suédoise) - for Vedergällningen (L'Été meurtrier)
- 1984 : César de la meilleure adaptation cinématographique (Best Original Screenplay) - French Academy of Cinema - for L'Été meurtrier (film de Jean Becker, 1983).
- 1991 : Prix Interallié for Un long dimanche de fiançailles (Denoël, 1991).
- 1996 : Adult Great Read (Honorable Mention) - Northern California Independent Booksellers Associated (NCIBA) (USA) for A very long Engagement