Amélie Nothomb

Her satirical novel about corporate life in Japan Fear and Trembling won the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française in 1999, and in 2015 she was elected to the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature in Belgium.

Amélie Nothomb studied at Université libre de Bruxelles. The recorded working language is French and Japanese. The field of work recorded is literature, literary activity and prose. Works named in the authority record are Hygiene and the Assassin, The Character of Rain, Tokyo Fiancée, The Book of Proper Names, Loving Sabotage and Fear and Trembling. Distinctions recorded are Prix René-Fallet, Prix Alain-Fournier, Prix littéraire de la vocation and Prix Jacques-Chardonne.

• Name — Amélie Nothomb • Honorific Prefix — Baroness • Birth Name — Fabienne Claire Nothomb • Born — 9 July 1966 or 1967 8 13 • Birthplace — Etterbeek, Belgium or Kōbe, Japan (disputed: see article body) • Occupation — Writer • Education — Université libre de Bruxelles • Notable Works — Loving Sabotage Fear and Trembling Tokyo Fiancée The Life of Hunger • Awards — Order of the Crown (Belgium), member of Académie royale de langue et de littérature françaises de Belgique, Prix littéraire de la vocation, Prix Jacques Chardonne, Prix de Flore, Prix Alain-Fournier, Grand prix Jean Giono, Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française • Website — amelie-nothomb.com

Amélie Nothomb was born in Etterbeek, Brussels-Capital Region on 9 July 1966, although she has claimed to have been born in Kobe, Japan in 1967, whereas records show her living there only from ages two to five. Subsequently, she lived in China, New York City, Bangladesh, Burma, the United Kingdom (Coventry) and Laos. She stems from a Belgian noble family. Her father was the Belgian diplomat Patrick Nothomb, and she is the grandniece of Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, a Belgian foreign minister (1980–1981), and great-granddaughter of writer and politician Pierre Nothomb. She has one brother (André Nothomb) and one sister, Juliette Nothomb, who is an author of culinary and children's books. • Illustration — Her family's coat of arms While in Japan, Nothomb attended a local school and learned Japanese. When she was five, the family moved to China. She remarked in Fear and Trembling that leaving Japan was "a wrenching separation for me". She studied philology at the Université libre de Bruxelles, initially planning to become a teacher After having finished her studies, Nothomb returned to Japan to work in a Japanese company in Tokyo.

Nothomb's first novel, Hygiène de l'assassin, was published in 1992. Since then, she has published approximately one novel per year, including Les Catilinaires (1995), Fear and Trembling (1999) and Métaphysique des tubes (2000). She has been awarded numerous prizes, including the 1993 Prix Jacques-Chardonne, the 1999 Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française, the Grand prix Jean Giono (2008), and since 2015 has been a member of the Belgium Royal Academy of French language and literature. She wrote a romanticized biography (The Book of Proper Names) of French female singer Robert in 2002 and during the period 2000–2002 wrote the lyrics for nine tracks by the same artist. A documentary — Amélie Nothomb: une vie entre deux eaux (A Life between two Waters) — co-written and directed by Laurelinne Amanieux and Luca Chiari, about Nothombs return to Japan was made in 2012. Iin The Life of Hunger, and then in more detail in her book Psychopompe she describes to have been victim of rape at the age of twelve on a beach while living in Bangladesh, and she recounts in Le Livre des soeurs how she subsequently fought anorexia nervosa. By a Royal Decree of 8 July 2015, Nothomb was ennobled as a non-hereditary baroness. Her novel Premier sang depicts the fictional memoirs of her father, who had died in 2020, written in the first person. The book won the Prix Renaudot 2021.

Nothomb is notorious for her dramatic appearance, with bold fashion choices and contrasting makeup (alabaster foundation and red lipstick), sometimes appearing in striking hats and her makeup showing a Japanese influence. She frequently discusses her presumed neurodivergent traits and frequently portrays characters with autistic traits. She lacks an official clinical diagnosis, stating "Several people have asked me if I am autistic. Maybe I am. But what is the point?" Her work The Character of Rain covers her early years and explores this.

• Illustration — Amélie Nothomb at a book signing at the Librairie des Abbesses in November 2023 By order of the sovereign Albert II, King of Belgium, on 9 July 2008, Amélie Nothumb was granted the distinguished honor of Commander of the Order of the Crown. By sovereign order, 8 July 2015, Madame Fabienne Claire, also known as Amélie Nothumb, was granted the personal title of Baronness. In 2015, Nothomb was elected a member of the Académie royale de langue et de littérature françaises de Belgique. She was chosen "by a vast majority" for "the importance of the work, her originality and her consistency, and her international influence," explained Jacques De Decker, the academy's permanent secretary. She assumed the seat of the Belgian writer and sinologist Simon Leys, whom she has praised with feeling.

• Le sabotage amoureux (English: Loving sabotage), Theater Le Ranelagh, Paris, 1999 With Valérie Mairesse, Pétronille de Saint-Rapt, Vanessa Jarry Direction: Annabelle Milot • Le sabotage amoureux (Loving Sabotage), Theater Daniel-Sorano, Vincennes, 2003–2005 With Pauline Foschia, Jeanne Gougeau, Laurence Vielle Adaptation et direction: Brigitte Bailleux, Laurence Vielle • Cosmétique de l'ennemi (The Enemy's Cosmetique), "La Compagnie des Sept Lieux", Suisse, 2003–2008 With John Durand and Olivier Renault Adaptation and direction: Emmanuel Samatani and Jean-Daniel Uldry • Les combustibles (Human Rites), Theater Daniel-Sorano, Vincennes, March – April 2008 With Michel Boy, Julie Turin, Grégory Gerrebo Direction: Stéphane Cottin • Métaphysique des tubes (The Character of Rain), 2007–2009 With Cécile Schletzer and Claire Rieussec Direction: Claire Rieussec • Hygiène de l'assassin (Hygiene and the Assassin), Theater of Namur and Theater "le Public", Bruxelles, September – October 2008 With Daniel Hanssens, Nathalie Cornet, Valérie Marchand and Vincent Lécuyer Direction: Pierre Santini • Biographie de la Faim (The Life of Hunger), Theater of "La Place des Martyrs", Bruxelles, April – May 2009 With Nathalie Cornet, Michel Hinderyckx, Jessica Gazon, Stéphanie Blanchoud... Adaptation and direction: Christine Delmotte • Les Combustibles (Human Rites), Theater of Nesle, Paris, 16 September 2010 – 2 October 2010 With Philippe Doré, Freddy Zimmer, Florine Moreau Direction: Hubert Vinzani • Stupeur et Tremblements (Fear and Trembling), Theater "Le Petit Hébértot", Paris, 18 March 2011 – 22 May 2011 With Layla Metssitane Adaptation and direction: Layla Metssitane

Amélie Nothomb was recorded at birth as Fabienne Claire Nothomb. She also worked under the name Amélie Nothomb. The authorities additionally record the headings Fabienne Nothomb and Amelie Nothomb. Her recorded languages were French and Japanese. She was the child of Patrick Nothomb and Danièle Scheyven. Other recorded relations include Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, Jean-Baptiste Nothomb and Paul Nothomb.

Amélie Nothomb is recorded as having received Prix René-Fallet, Prix Alain-Fournier and Prix littéraire de la vocation.

• Published (in French) — Type — Original title — English title — English publication details • 1992 — novel — Hygiène de l'assassin — Hygiene and the Assassin — Europa Editions, hardback, 2010 • 1993 — novel — Le Sabotage amoureux — Loving Sabotage — W. W. Norton & Co, hardback, 2000, Faber and Faber, paperback, 2003, • 1993 — tale — Légende un peu chinoise (Longue Vue) • 1994 — play — Les Combustibles — Human Rites — Oberon Books, paperback, 2005, • 1995 — novel — Les Catilinaires — The Stranger Next Door — Holt (Henry) & Co, hardback, 1996, • 1996 — novel — Péplum • 1996 — 14 pages short story — Électre (Stock) • 1996 — short story — L'Existence de Dieu (La Revue Générale) • 1997 — novel — Attentat • 1998 — novel — Mercure • 1999 — novel — Stupeur et tremblements — Fear and Trembling — Faber and Faber, paperback, 2002, • 1999 — 39 pages short story — Le Mystère par excellence (Le Grand livre du mois) • 2000 — novel — Métaphysique des tubes — The Character of Rain — Faber and Faber, paperback, 2003, • 2000 — 3 tales — Brillant comme une casserole (La Pierre d'Alun) • 2001 — novel — Cosmétique de l'ennemi — The Enemy's Cosmetique • 2001 — 2 pages short story — Aspirin • 2001 — 64 pages short story — Sans nom (Elle) • 2002 — novel — Robert des noms propres — The Book of Proper Names — Faber and Faber, paperback, 2004, • 2003 — novel — Antéchrista — Antichrista — Faber and Faber, paperback, 2004, • 2004 — 46 pages short story — L'Entrée du Christ à Bruxelles (Elle) • 2004 — novel — Biographie de la faim — The Life of Hunger — Faber and Faber, hardback, 2006 • 2005 — novel — Acide sulfurique — Sulphuric Acid — Faber and Faber, hardback, 2007 • 2006 — novel — Journal d'Hirondelle • 2007 — novel — Ni d'Eve, ni d'Adam — Tokyo Fiancée — Europa Editions, hardback, 2008 • 2007 — short story in 9 episodes — Les Champignons de Paris (Charlie Hebdo) • 2008 — novel — Le Fait du prince — The Prince's Act — Éditions Albin Michel • 2009 — novel — Le Voyage d'Hiver — The Winter Journey — Éditions Albin Michel • 2010 — novel — Une forme de vie — Life Form — Europa Editions, hardback • 2011 — novel — Tuer le père — Éditions Albin Michel • 2012 — novel — Barbe bleue — Éditions Albin Michel • 2013 — novel — La nostalgie heureuse — Éditions Albin Michel • 2014 — novel — Pétronille — Pétronille — Europa Editions, paperback, 2015 • 2015 — novel — Le Crime du comte Neville — Éditions Albin Michel • 2016 — novel — Riquet à la houppe — Éditions Albin Michel • 2017 — novel — Frappe-toi le cœur — Strike your Heart — Éditions Albin Michel, Europa Editions • 2018 — novel — Les prénoms épicènes — Éditions Albin Michel • 2019 — novel — Soif — Thirst — Europa Editions, • 2020 — novel — Les aérostats — Éditions Albin Michel, • 2021 — novel — Premier sang — First Blood — Europa Editions • 2022 — novel — Le livre des sœurs — Éditions Albin Michel • 2023 — novel — Psychopompe — Éditions Albin Michel, • 2024 — novel — L'impossible retour — Éditions Albin Michel, • 2025 — novel — Tant mieux — Éditions Albin Michel, Unless otherwise stated, all works were originally published in French by Éditions Albin Michel.

• Susan Bainbrigge and Jeanette Den Toonder, Amélie Nothomb, Authorship, Identity and Narrative Practice, Peter Lang, 2003. • (fr) Frédérique Chevillot, Amélie Nothomb: L'Invitation à la lecture. Women in French Studies, 2012, vol. 2012, no 1,. • Mary Jane Cowles, Close Encounters of the Abject Kind: The Intercultural Female Body in Amélie Nothomb's Japan. • Amaleena Damlé, Making A Body without Organs: Amélie Nothomb's An-Organic Flux of Immanence,. • (fr) Yolande Helm, Amélie Nothomb: une écriture alimentée à la source de l'orphisme. Religiologiques, Orphée et Eurydice: mythes en mutation, 1997, vol. 15,. • Anna Kemp, The Child as Artist in Amélie Nothomb's Robert des noms propres. French studies, 2012, vol. 66, no 1, pp. 54–67. • Mark D. Lee, Les identités d'Amélie Nothomb: de l'invention médiatique aux fantasmes originaires, éd. Rodopi, 2010. • (fr) Andrea Oberhuber, Réécrire à l'ère du soupçon insidieux: Amélie Nothomb et le récit postmoderne. Études françaises, 2004, vol. 40, no 1,. • Scott M Powers, Evil in Contemporary French and Francophone Literature, 2014.