3. Fall into Books: 5 Conferences with Today's Most Influential French and American Authors and Thinkers

Featured Authors

Mohamed Amer Meziane is a philosopher and Albertine Prize winner for non-fiction. In The States of the Earth: An Ecological and Racial History of Secularization (Verso, 2024), Meziane challenges conventional views on secularization, empire, and their impact on the world. He offers a fresh perspective on how these forces have shaped modern history. Far from defending religion, Meziane reveals how both religious and secular powers, driven by material gain, contributed to today’s ecological crises, offering a bold rethinking of the forces that have shaped the world we live in today.

Talk: 10:00 – 11:00 AM | Book Signing: Following the talk

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Marc Lévy
 One of France’s most successful contemporary authors, Marc Lévy is beloved for his unique blend of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling. With over 50 million copies of his twenty-five novels sold worldwide, and translations into 50 languages, Lévy is the most-read French author in the world. He will be joining us to discuss his latest work, offering readers a chance to engage with one of the most influential figures in contemporary literature. Marc Lévy's international bestseller, If Only It Were True (Et si c'était vrai...), was also adapted into the Hollywood film Just Like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo.

Talk: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Book Signing : 12:00 PM




Colombe Schneck
A renowned French journalist and author of eleven books, Colombe Schneck is often compared to Annie Ernaux for her autobiographical style, which explores memory, family, and social class.
Her latest work, Swimming in Paris, is a triptych of interconnected stories dealing with personal struggles and midlife discoveries, including growing up in a bourgeois Parisian milieu, the loss of a close friend, and life after divorce.

Talk : 12:30 – 1:30 PM | Book Signing: Following the talk



Victor Dixen & Kass Morgan
Victor Dixen, a two-time winner of the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire and a bestselling French author of science fiction and fantasy, will be joined by Kass Morgan, the author of the popular
The 100 series, which was adapted into a hit TV show on the CW. Dixen’s imaginative worlds and thought-provoking themes in series like Phobos and Vampyria have earned him international acclaim. Together, they will explore the exciting possibilities of speculative fiction, discussing how their stories bridge the gap between imagination and reality, and how their works resonate with readers across the globe.

Talk: 2:00 – 3:00 PM |  Book Signing : 3:00 PM



Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt Acclaimed French-Belgian author, playwright, and filmmaker, Schmitt is one of the most widely read contemporary French authors in the world, known for works that explore profound human themes. His novels and plays have been translated into 48 languages, and more than 50 countries regularly perform his works. At this event, he will present Paradise Lost, the first volume in his monumental project recounting the history of humanity—an epic literary journey built on over 30 years of research, offering a unique perspective on our collective story.

Talk: 1:30 – 3:00 PM | Book Signing: 3:00 – 3:30 PM
Please note that this event will take place across the street at the the First Lutheran Church of Boston



This event is co-presented with Villa Albertine Boston and the Boston Book Festival.









The French Library is proud to continue its longstanding collaboration with Villa Albertine Boston, alongside the Boston Book Festival. This year’s event promises to be especially exciting, as we welcome a record number of Francophone authors to our stage.

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Upcoming Events

Author Talk

French Voices at the Boston Book Festival

In Partnership with Villa Albertine

Saturday, October 25, 2025

This exciting day of author talks offers a unique chance for readers, literature enthusiasts, and Francophiles to engage directly with some of today’s most celebrated French voices.

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In-Person Event

Sibylle Grimbert: Writing the Fragile Bond Between Man and Nature

In partnership with Villa Albertine

Monday, October 27, 2025

What can the friendship between a man and a bird teach us about love, loss, and our place in the natural world? We are delighted to welcome award-winning author Sibylle Grimbert for a special evening of literary conversation around her novel The Last of Its Kind.

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Author Talk

From Walden to the Taiga: Thoreau and Tesson in Dialogue into the Wild

A dialogue of ideas with Pierre-Laurent Boulanger

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Reflect on solitude and freedom in a guided dialogue that brings together Thoreau’s Walden and Tesson’s Consolations of the Forest; where literature, philosophy, and conversation meet.

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