Daniel Pennak French writer. Country: France

1. Biography of Daniel Pennac
2. Writing Career
3. List of Works

Biography of Daniel Pennac

Daniel Pennac is a French writer who was born into a military family. He is of Corsican descent. He spent his childhood and youth in military garrisons in French colonies in Africa and Southeast Asia. After finishing school in Nice, he worked as a wood carver, taxi driver, and illustrator.

Writing Career

For over 25 years, Pennac dedicated himself to working with children with developmental disabilities. During his time in Brazil from 1978 to 1980, he started writing books for children. This period saw the publication of his famous books "Dog Song" (1982) and "The Eye of the Wolf" (1984).

Later on, Pennac ventured into political satire and developed an interest in detective novels, specifically in the "noir" genre. In 1985, his novel "The Scapegoat's Happiness" was published, marking the beginning of a series featuring Benjamin Malaussène, a professional scapegoat, and his family living in the Belleville district of Paris. This was followed by "The Fairy Gun" (1987), "The Little Prose Trader" (1989), "Monsieur Malaussène" (1995), and "Fruits of Passion" (1997), all masterfully crafted in the style of "black detective" novels.

During the 2002 presidential elections in France, Pennac was a member of the shadow cabinet of Dieudonné M’bala M’bala.

List of Works

Saga of Malaussène:
- "The Scapegoat's Happiness" (1985)
- "The Fairy Gun" (1987)
- "The Little Prose Trader" (1989)
- "Monsieur Malaussène" (1995)
- "Monsieur Malaussène at the Theater" (1996)
- "Of Christians and Moors" (1996)
- "Fruits of Passion" (1999)

Essays:
- "Military Service in the Service of Whom?" (1973) published under his real name, Daniel Pennacchioni
- "Like a Novel" (1992)

Other Works:
- "The Dictator and the Hammock" (2003)
- "Gentlemen Children" (1997)
- "The Great Vacations" (photo album) with Robert Doisneau (2002)
- "Family Life"
- "Dog and Dog" (1982)
- "The Eye of the Wolf" (1984)
- "The Meaning of the Houppelande"
- "Debauchery"
- "Tour of the Sky"
- "What Are You Waiting For, Marie?"
- "Vercors from Above: The Natural Reserve of the High Plateaus"
- "Le Grand Rex"
- "Sahara"
- Kamo Series: "Kamo: The Babel Agency" (1992), "Kamo's Escape," "Kamo and Me," "Kamo: The Idea of the Century"