Michel Del Castillo

Michel del Castillo (or Michel Janicot del Castillo) is a Spanish-French writer.

Interned in a concentration camp under the name of Rieucros in Mende with his mother during the Second World War, he developed a sense of belonging to this town, which has honored him with naming a school after him.

He first studied politics and psychology, then turned to literature. Influenced by Miguel de Unamuno and Fyodor Dostoevsky, his books received many literary prizes, namely Renaudot for la Nuit du décret (1981) and prix Femina for Colette, une certaine France and then got shot by a running convict (1998).

In 1997 he became a member of the Académie royale de Belgique, thus succeeding to Georges Duby.

Aside from travelling, he is said to be very keen on classical music.