Jean-Claude Izzo (Marseille 20 June 1945 – 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 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. Bibliography Poèmes à haute voix (P.J. Oswald, 1970) Terres de feu (P.J. Oswald, 1972) État de veille (P.J. Oswald, 1974) Braises, brasiers, brûlures (poesie illustrate da E. Damofli, 1975) Paysage de femme (Guy Chambelland, 1975) Le réel au plus vif (Guy Chambelland, 1976) Clovis Hughes, un rouge du Midi (J. Laffitte, 1978) Total Kheops (Gallimard, Série Noire, 1995). Italian translation Casino totale (Editions and/or, 1998). German translation Total Cheops (Unionsverlag, 2000). English translation Total Chaos (New York: Europa Editions, 2005). Polish translation Total khéops (Warszawa: W.A.B., 2005) Irish Translation Kíor Tuathail (Contae na Gaillimhe:Leabhair Breac, 2017). Chourmo (Gallimard, Série Noire, 1996). Italian translation Chourmo. Il cuore di Marsiglia (Editions and/or, 1999). German translation Chourmo (Unionsverlag, 2000). English translation Chourmo (New York: Europa Editions, 2006). Polish translation Szurmo (Warszawa: W.A.B., 2006) Loin de tous rivages (Ed. du Ricochet, 1997) Les marins perdus (Flammarion, 1997). Italian translation Marinai perduti (Editions and/or, 2001). German translation Aldebaran (Unionsverlag, 2002). English translation The Lost Sailors (New York: Europa Editions, 2007). Dutch translation Eindpunt Marseille (Breda: De Geus, 2007). Spanish translation Los marineros perdidos (Editorial Montesinos, 2010) Vivre fatigue (Librio, 1998). Italian translation Vivere stanca (Editions and/or, 2001). German edition Leben macht müde (Unionsverlag, 2005) Soléa (Gallimard, Série Noire, 1998). Italian translation Solea (Editions and/or, 2000). German translation Solea (Unionsverlag,