  jean-claude izzo (marseille 20 june 1945 â marseille 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. jean-claude izzo was born on 20 june 1945 in marseille, france. his father was an italian immigrant 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. then, in 1964, he was called up for military duty in toulon and djibouti. he worked for the military newspaper as a photographer and journalist. == bibliography == *poÃ¨mes Ã  haute voix (p.j. oswald, 1970) *terres de feu (p.j. oswald, 1972) *Ãtat de veille (p.j. oswald, 1974) *braises, brasiers, brÃ»lures (poesie illustrate da e. damofli, 1975) *paysage de femme (guy chambelland, 1975) *le rÃ©el au plus vif (guy chambelland, 1976) *clovis hughes, un rouge du midi (j. laffitte, 1978) *total kheops (gallimard, sÃ©rie noire, 1995). italian translation casino totale (editions and/or, 1998). english translation total chaos (new york: europa editions, 2005). *chourmo (gallimard, sÃ©rie noire, 1996). italian translation chourmo. il cuore di marsiglia (editions and/or, 1999). english translation chourmo (new york: europa editi
1945_births 2000_deaths 20th-century_French_novelists French_crime_fiction_writers French_people_of_Italian_descent French_people_of_Spanish_descent French_screenwriters People_from_Marseille Writers_from_Provence-Alpes-CA'te_d\'Azur