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Michel Houellebecq

Michel Houellebecq, born Michel Thomas in Réunion in 1956, is a highly controversial French author, poet and filmmaker. He adopted his grandmother's maiden name Houellebecq as his pen name.

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Author Michel Houellebecq sits smoking

Houellebecq's 'Annihilate' to be his last novel

With his new book, the literary provocateur Michel Houellebecq completes his quest to portray a dying white patriarchy.
CultureJanuary 11, 2022
Michel Houellebecq französischer Schriftsteller

Prophet of depressing times

A new novel by contentious French author Michel Houellebecq includes prescient depictions of the "yellow vest" protests.
CultureJanuary 8, 2019
Michel Houellebecq thinks in front of the microphone

Michel Houellebecq turns 60 — or maybe 62?

France's most-read author, and arguably its most provocative, is celebrating his birthday. He mixes work with life.
LiteratureFebruary 26, 2018
Michel Houellebecq

French author Michel Houellebecq at the Frankfurt Book Fair

Michel Houellebecq is one of the biggest stars in France's literature scene — and one of the most provocative.
CultureOctober 12, 2017
Michel Houellebecq französischer Schriftsteller

A selection of France's best contemporary writers

With France the guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair, we look at some of the nation's best contemporary authors.
CultureOctober 11, 20178 images
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron

Macron and Merkel to open Frankfurt Book Fair

With France being the guest of honor of the book fair this year, President Macron will be opening the event on Tuesday.
CultureOctober 10, 2017
Jonathan Franzen

Franzen honored with Schirrmacher Prize

The foundation singled out US author Jonathan Franzen for his "keen and versatile" grasp on contemporary life.
CultureMay 9, 2017
Michel Houellebecq Tourisme #001, Copyright: Michel Houellebecq/courtesy Air de Paris

Enter the gloomy cosmos of writer Michel Houellebecq

A new exhibition in Paris by writer Michel Houellebecq features his striking photography and poetry.
June 23, 2016
Frankreich Schriftsteller Michel Houellebecq

Photos by writer Michel Houellebecq a reminder to 'stay sanguine'

Literary darling Michel Houellebecq has another obsession: He loves taking pictures, as a new exhibition in Paris shows.
CultureJune 23, 20167 images
Manifesta 11 in Zurich, Copyright: Manifesta 11/Alex Lehnerer

When an art expert and a plumber discuss 'filtering art'

German artist Christian Jankowski, director of the contemporary art biennial Manifesta, on his vision of the event.
June 13, 2016
Author Michel Houellebecq , Copyright: Imago, el Mundo

Houellebecq provokes with 'space-saving' text collection

A year after publishing his political satire on the same day as the "Charlie Hebdo" attacks, Houellebecq is back.
January 6, 2016
Bildergalerie Jahresrückblick Kultur 2015

Culture 2015: People who left their mark

DW looks at the artists who moved us with their books, movies, art or music.
December 30, 2015
Deutschland Frankreich Schriftsteller Michel Houellebecq Buch Unterwerfung

Timely Novels

Prophetic or just well-timed? Authors whose works were overtaken by real events.
December 22, 2015
US author T.C. Boyle. Copyright: Tom Schulze/dpa

International books Germans are reading

Germans love to read. But what current international books are whetting their appetites.
March 12, 2015
Michel Houellebecq at lit.Colologne in Germany, Copyright: Reuters/W. Rattay

Houellebecq in Germany

Houellebecq speaks in Germany on his approach to Islam in his controversial novel, "Submission."
January 20, 2015
Frankreich author Michel Houellebecq in 2014

'Submission' without polemic

'Submission' plays into the hands of the critics.
January 8, 2015
Frankreich Literatur Schriftsteller Michel Houellebecq erhält Literaturpreis

Michel Houellebecq's novel accused of Islamophobia

Pornographic, vulgar, sexist, racist - all these words have been used to describe Houellebecq's work.
January 7, 2015