Boston Book Festival

Marc Levy is the most-read contemporary French author, with 24 novels translated into 50 languages,  having sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. Many of his novels have been adapted for the screen, such as the successful Hollywood movie Just like Heaven, directed by Mark Waters and produced by Steven Spielberg. Marc Levy will explain the secret of his unique ability to tell compelling stories. His latest book translated in English, The Symphony of Monsters, is an unforgettable story of courage, resilience, and love. Marc Levy will discuss his work with internationally renowned media expert and journalist Jean Christian Agid for a horizon-expanding debate on novel writing and more.

Written in a style that evokes Annie Ernaux’s precise and intimate work on social milieu and sexuality, Swimming in Paris is a decades-long exploration of the complicated relationships that women so often have with their own bodies. Whether depicting a teenage abortion in the midst of a privileged Parisian upbringing, or unexpected romances, Colombe Schneck’s prose exudes an unwavering elegance and intimacy. In Pamela Druckerman’s words, “Schneck offers a periscopic view into bourgeois Paris and captures the terror and truth of love like only a Frenchwoman can.” Join the author to know more about  this powerful meditation on a lifelong journey to reclaim the female body. She will be interviewed by Shuchi Sarawsat, writer, journalist and founder of the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith, a reading series focused on stories of migration, the intersection of politics & literature.

Bestselling authors Victor Dixen and Kass Morgan will discuss young adult fantasy novels in the light of their political context and significance. With this in mind, Dixen will present the second volume of  his Vampyria America saga, The Court of Miracles, telling the story of the vampire King Louis XIV, determined to protect his empire at any cost in spite of a mysterious renegade vampire. Kass Morgan, author of The 100, will be joining him for a lively dialogue, bringing an in-depth perspective on the political dimension of vampire figures. Jenai Engelhard, Boston University lecturer who specializes in French literature, thought and culture, will moderate.