On Friday, November 15, join us for an evening celebrating the American writer Paul Auster. Hear tributes to Auster’s work, listen to excerpts from his novels, and learn about his impact on both sides of the Atlantic, in conversation with writer Colum McCann, publisher Françoise Nyssen, and journalist Laure Adler, moderated by Megan Nolan. With the participation of Siri Hustvedt, Philippe Petit, Professor Florent Masse, and Princeton University students Chloé Zhu, Clément Génibrèdes, Gil Joseph and Eddie Kong.

This event is free with RSVP. Click here for tickets.

This event is co-organized with Villa Albertine and is a part of Albertine’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. 

SIRI HUSTVEDT is the author of a book of poetry, three collections of essays, a work of non-fiction, and six novels, including the international bestsellers What I Loved (Picador) and  The Summer Without Men (Picador). 

COLUM MCCANN is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honors, including the National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish arts academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. 

FRANÇOISE NYSSEN is a Franco-Belgian publisher and the former director of the publishing house Actes Sud. In 1980, she entered the world of publishing, initially as a partner and CEO of the Paradou publishing cooperative and later becoming a partner and chair of the management board of the publishing house Actes Sud. In 1987, she founded the Actes Sud bookstore and directed the “Un endroit où aller” collection, created in 1995. 

LAURE ADLER is a French journalist, biographer, essayist, novelist, editor, and producer. Joining France-Culture in 1974, she initially worked as a secretary before hosting the renowned program Panorama and producing influential shows like Les Nuits magnétiques. In addition to her television work, she has authored several notable books, including À l’aube du féminisme (Payot & Rivages) and Marguerite Duras (Flammarion), and served as a cultural advisor to President François Mitterrand from 1990 to 1992. Laure Adler has also been celebrated for her work as a radio host, leading some of Radio France’s best-known literary shows for the past decades. 

French daredevil PHILIPPE PETIT reached global fame in August 1974 for his high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Called the “artistic crime of the century,” Petit’s daring feat became the focus of a media sensation. He has also written six books, including 1985’s On the High Wire (New Directions). 

FLORENT MASSE is a Professor of the Practice in the Department of French and Italian and the Director of l’Avant-Scène, the French Theater Workshop. Since 2012, he has served as Artistic Director of Seuls en Scène, Princeton’s French Theater Festival that he has produced annually in partnership with the Lewis Center for the Arts. He will be joined by students Chloé ZHU, Clément GENIBREDES, Gil JOSEPH and Eddie KONG.

Photo credit: © Spencer Ostrander