Laurent Mauvignier was born in Tours in 1967 and published his first novel, Loin d’eux (Far from Them], in 1999.

Mauvignier has since written numerous novels, including In the Crowd (2006), The Wound (2009) and Continuer [Carrying On] (2018), all published by Éditions de Minuit, and is the winner of 11 literary prizes, including the Prix Wepler and the Prix Amerigo-Vespucci. The author is also a playwright and has written scripts for TV and film.

Laurent Mauvignier’s novel The Birthday Party was longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023.

The writing is formidable. The slow rhythm of the sentences creates tension as much as the situation itself. Laurent Mauvignier also describes brilliantly an abandoned rural France where there is a sense of marginalisation and humiliation.

— The International Booker Prize 2023 panel of judges on 'The Birthday Party'

All nominated books

The Birthday Party