Sean French

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Books

Associate: Eli Keren

Books

Sean French was educated at William Ellis School in London and then went to Christ Church, Oxford. He is married to Nicci Gerrard and has four children. He was the Deputy Literary Editor at the Sunday Times between 1984-1986, Theatre Critic on Vogue between 1982-1986, Film Critic for Marie Claire between 1989-92 and Columnist for the New Society/New Statesman between 1986-2000. In collaboration with his wife Nicci, he writes the successful novels under the name Nicci French.

 

Latest Publication

START FROM HERE - MACMILLAN - MAY 2004

Mark Foll is someone you might have spoken to, although you wouldn't necessarily know it; he might have called you in the middle of your favourite television programme to ask if you could take part in some market research, or you might even have called him to sort out your mobile phone contract or to find out where your airline tickets are. Mark has been drifting from terrible job to even worse job when he washes up at Wortley Insurance, working as claims adjuster. It is only when he is sent to Marson Greem, a Norfolk village, to investigate what might or might not be a cancer cluster caused by a waste management company insured by Wortley, that life beging to become something Mark might believe actually involves him. Start From Here is a social comedy, a love story, and a novel about patterns, randomness, and the patterns we see in randomness - in love, in life, and in insurance.

Fiction

Publication DetailsNotes
1995

Granta

Henry Dean is an apparently happily married father of one, living quietly in Camden Town. Who would ever guess that he entertains fantasies of his family's incineration in a road accident, leaving him grieving, dignified and deeply desirable, especially to friends of his dead wife?

1993

Granta

A jilted lover turns himself into a monkey and insinuates himself into the house of his former girlfriend and her new lover. His intention of destroying their lives becomes subtly changed as he adapts to his new condition.

Non-Fiction

Publication DetailsNotes
1999

Faber

A collection celebrating the poison pen commentary, adulation, revenge, and jealousy of writers commenting on other writers includes pieces by Philip Roth on Bernard Malamud, Virginia Woolf on D.H. Lawrence, and T.S. Eliot on James Joyce.

1997

Pavilion

Published on the eve of her 60th birthday, this biography of Jane Fonda is a study of an actress whose life is defined by its chameleon-like progress. From Bardot-esque blonde to serious, clipped brunette; coiffeured chic career woman to aerobic evangelist, and now an international ambassador, Fonda's politics and "look" seem to echo the cultural trends of America in the second half of the 20th century. Even now, when other female stars of her generation are in retirement or playing minor parts, it seems that Fonda, a hate figure for one generation and a role model for others, is poised for a time of new achievement.

1996

BFI

Made on a low budget, "The Terminator" was one of the most influential films of the 1980s. This text places the film in the context of exploitation films, and argues that it is compelling because it deals with the darker, more visceral pleasures of movie-going.

1994

Pavilion

There were many other actresses who became notorious for their lives on and off the screen but none more so than Brigitte Bardot. This book investigates the myth of Bardot as sex goddess and its cultural ramifications. He shows that, even now, Bardot remains a potent presence and a famous figure – millions know her name, face and body, but few can cite a single film that she was in. The author reveals the truth behind the legend: how Bardot made a film with Louis Malle exploring her own discontent, and starred in Jean-Luc Godard’s work "Contempt", which dismantles the very myth which brought her such fame.

1993

Faber

Patrick Hamilton, author of "Rope" and "Gaslight", had a life full of strange contradictions. He came from a family of powerful literary failures, and yet he made his name internationally while in his mid-20s. He became a committed Marxist but married – twice – into the aristocracy and although his family was wealthy, he was drawn to the poor and genteel.

1993

Virago

Edited by Sean French, this is a collection of responses to the question, "What does fatherhood mean to you?", from poets, journalists and novelists.