Paris and its neighborhoods highlighted in a book. The Wepler Prize, a literary prize which rewards emerging writers, was awarded on Monday to Thomas Clerc for a book in which he gives a detailed description of the 18th arrondissement of Paris.
“Paris museum of the 21st century: the eighteenth arrondissement”, published in August by Editions de Minuit, is the sequel to a 2007 book in which the same author described the 10th arrondissement. Throughout the more than 600 pages, Thomas Clerc, 59, strolls through the north of the capital and describes ordinary street scenes. Both in Montmartre, very popular with tourists, and in neighborhoods that have become gentrified and others among the poorest in Paris.
“It is a great book of literature with a naturalistic ambition on the Paris of today and tomorrow, but also on the future of all world cities,” commented the jury, quoted in a press release. The Wepler prize, named after the Parisian brasserie where it is awarded, also in the 18th arrondissement, is supported by the La Poste Foundation. He is endowed with 10,000 euros.
His “special mention”, endowed with 3,000 euros, was awarded to Célestin de Meeûs for “Mythologie du.12” (editions du Sous-Sol), first novel by a 33-year-old Belgian.
Thomas Clerc was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine) before studying at the University of Paris-Nanterre, from where he graduated with a diploma in modern letters, a doctorate in letters and a master of conferences in contemporary literature.
