A short life of the author
Jean-Patrick Manchette (1942–1995) was born on 19 December 1942 in Marseille, France. He was a politically committed writer on the far left.
Life and Career
Manchette wrote ten crime novels between 1971 and 1982, then essentially stopped writing fiction. Each is short, violent, and structurally precise. Nada (1972) — about a group of leftist radicals who kidnap the American ambassador to France — and Ô dingos, ô châteaux! (The Mad and the Bad, 1972) — about a young woman hired as a nanny who becomes a target — are his early masterpieces.
Fatale (1977) — about a beautiful woman who arrives in a small provincial town and systematically destroys its corrupt bourgeoisie — and Le Petit Bleu de la côte Ouest (The Prone Gunman, 1981) — about a hired killer who tries to retire — are his finest works.
Major Works and Themes
Manchette wrote about capitalism, corruption, and the impossibility of individual action against systemic violence. He treated the crime novel as a political instrument.
Key Works
- Fatale (1977)
- Nada (1972)
Collecting Manchette
French originals (Gallimard, Série Noire) are the primary collected form. English translations (NYRB Classics, City Lights) bring $10–$25. Manchette died in 1995.