Stéphane Héaume (born 27 March 1971 in Paris) is a French novelist, essayist, and librettist. He is noted for his literary works, which have received several French literary prizes, and for writing texts for contemporary classical composers. After periods of residence in Cameroon and New York, he presently lives in Paris and divides his time between the capital and Trouville‑sur‑Mer.
Early life and education
Héaume was born in Paris. Details of his formal education are not widely documented, but his early experiences abroad, particularly in Cameroon and the United States, have informed the cultural breadth of his later writings.
Literary career
Novels
Héaume’s debut novel, Le Clos Lothar (Zulma, 2002), earned the Jury Prize of the Grand Prix Jean‑Giono (2002) and the Prix Emmanuel‑Roblès (2003). Subsequent novels include:
- Orkhidos (Zulma, 2004)
- Le Fou de Printzberg (Éditions Anne Carrière, 2006; Seuil, 2007)
- Le Contemplateur (Éditions Anne Carrière, 2007)
- La Nuit de Fort‑Haggar (Seuil, 2009)
- Sheridan Square (Seuil, 2012) – awarded the Prix de la Ville de Deauville (2012)
- L'Idole noire (Éditions du Moteur, 2011)
- Emma (Zulma, 2001)
His later works include L'Insolite évasion de Sebastian Wimer (Serge Safran, 2016) and numerous short stories and essays published in literary magazines such as La Table Ronde, Décapage, and Immédiatement.
Essays and non‑fiction
Héaume has authored literary and historical essays, notably Pierre Benoit, maître du roman d’aventures (Hermann, 2015) and various contributions to collective volumes on French literature and cultural heritage.
Music and libretti
Héaume collaborates with contemporary composers, providing texts for operatic and concert works. Significant projects include:
- Triptyque (music by Richard Dubugnon), premiered by the Royal Academy of London (1999) and Radio France (2008).
- Le Voyage écarlate (Dubugnon), staged by Péniche Opéra in Paris (2002) and Aix‑en‑Provence (2005).
- Cantata oscura (Dubugnon), performed at Espace Cardin, Paris (2005).
- Valse désarticulée (music by Thierry Escaich), presented at Théâtre du Lierre (2007).
- Le Songe Salinas for mezzo‑soprano and orchestra (Dubugnon), premiered at Théâtre des Champs‑Élysées (2009) with the Orchestre national de France.
His texts have also been used in ballet and choral works, such as Mamamouchi (after Molière’s Le Bourgeois gentilhomme) and La Reine (based on Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 85).
Awards and honours
- Jury Prize of the Grand Prix Jean‑Giono (2002) – for Le Clos Lothar
- Prix Emmanuel‑Roblès (2003) – for Le Clos Lothar
- Prix de la Ville de Deauville (2012) – for Sheridan Square
Selected bibliography
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Emma | Zulma | Part of the “Les Prénoms” series |
| 2002 | Le Clos Lothar | Zulma | Grand Prix Jean‑Giono Jury Prize; Prix Emmanuel‑Roblès |
| 2004 | Orkhidos | Zulma | – |
| 2006 | Le Fou de Printzberg | Éditions Anne Carrière / Seuil | – |
| 2007 | Le Contemplateur | Éditions Anne Carrière | – |
| 2009 | La Nuit de Fort‑Haggar | Seuil | – |
| 2011 | L'Idole noire | Éditions du Moteur | – |
| 2012 | Sheridan Square | Seuil | Prix de la Ville de Deauville |
| 2015 | Pierre Benoit, maître du roman d’aventures | Hermann | Literary study |
| 2016 | L'Insolite évasion de Sebastian Wimer | Serge Safran | – |
Personal life
Héaume is the grandson of architect Arthur‑Georges Héaume, who worked with Auguste Perret after 1945. He maintains a residence in Paris and a secondary home in Trouville‑sur‑Mer, Normandy.
External links
- Official website: stephaneheaume.com
- Publisher pages (Éditions du Seuil, Zulma)
This entry reflects information available from publicly accessible encyclopedic sources as of 2026.