Jean-Claude Izzo

Jean-Claude Izzo
Jean-Claude Izzo at the 1997 International Geography Festival
Born	(1945-06-20)20 June 1945 Marseille, France
Died	26 January 2000(2000-01-26) (aged 54) Marseille, France
Occupation	Novelist
Language	French
Nationality	French
Genre	Mediterranean noir, crime novel
Notable works	The Marseille Trilogy
Notable awards	Trophées 813, Prix Sang d'Encre
Website
www.jeanclaude-izzo.com

Jean-Claude Izzo (20 June 1945 – 26 January 2000) was a French poet, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist who achieved sudden fame in the mid-1990s with the publication of his three neo-noir crime novels Total Chaos, Chourmo, and Solea (widely known as the Marseilles Trilogy), featuring as protagonist ex-cop Fabio Montale, and set in the author's native city of Marseille. All have been translated into English by Howard Curtis.^[1]

Jean-Claude Izzo was born on 20 June 1945 in Marseille, France. His father was an Italian immigrant from Castel San Giorgio (Province of Salerno) and his maternal grandfather was a Spanish immigrant. He excelled in school and spent much of his time at his desk writing stories and poems. But because of his "immigrant" status, he was forced into a technical school where he was taught how to operate a lathe.

In 1963, he began work in a bookstore. He also actively campaigned on behalf of Pax Christi, a Catholic peace movement. In 1964, he was called up for military duty in Toulon and Djibouti. He worked for the military newspaper as a photographer and journalist.