A literary salon on two great writers
Graham Greene and Michel Déon
Join us for this entertaining and insightful evening about these two celebrated authors with Dr Eamon Maher, Director of the National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies, Technological University Dublin, in conversation with Pierre Joannon, former Consul General of Ireland in south-east France (1973-2024) and Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Both speakers have a vast knowledge of the two authors and their works.
The theme of the discussion will be around Pierre’s two books: ‘Graham Greene, Ireland and the Honorary Consul – A view from the South of France’ (2024)’ and ‘Michel Déon de l’Académie française, Pierre Joannon, Correspondance 1973-2016’ (January 2025).
Over his diplomatic and literary career, Pierre Joannon has had the opportunity to meet and know many writers. He hosted informal literary salons in Antibes, his home for many years, where he met his neighbour Graham Greene, who had moved there to write and found great company in Joannon. In fact, a red thread is that Joannon introduced Déon to Greene.
Greene was a celebrated English writer and journalist and was regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century. Over a 67-year career of writing, he explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world and published 25 novels. He found inspiration for his books by travelling extensively and meeting extraordinary people. He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. Greene visited Ireland in the 1970s, a period of violence in Northern Ireland which he felt first hand. He formed relationships with Irish writers, soldiers and politicians as different as Ernie O'Malley, Séan O'Faoláin, Conor Cruise O'Brien and Gerry Fitt. When living in Antibes, Greene was a co-founder with Pierre Joannon of the Jameson Irish Club.
Déon, a French novelist and literary columnist, published over 50 works and was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Prix Interallié. He is considered to have been one of the most pioneering French writers of the 20th century. In 1978, Déon was elected to the Académie française. For over 40 years, Déon and his family made Ireland their home until his death in 2016 at age 97. He was an honorary citizen of Nice, Aix-en-Provence, and Antibes. Déon went to school in Monaco, while his father was on assignment in Monaco serving as advisor to Prince Louis. When his father died in 1933, the teenage Michel and his mother returned to Paris.
"They had a lot in common, having worked as publishers, novelists and essayists. They were both living in foreign countries and they had both visited Padre Pio...," says Pierre Joannon.
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Pierre Joannon speaks to the audience gathered at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin in October 2024 for his book launch on the English author Graham Greene. Pierre Joannon is the Emeritus Consul General of Ireland and a member of the RIA. Seated behind him is Dr Eamon Maher who presented the book at the launch and spoke about Pierre's unique knowledge of Greene. Dr Maher wrote the preface to Pierre's book 'Graham Greene, Ireland and the Honorary Consul. A view from the south of France.' The book was published by Peter Lang - Studies in Franco-Irish Relations (volume 23) - Series Editor, Dr Eamon Mahor, Technological University Dublin.
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About Pierre Joannon
Pierre Joannon is a former trustee of the Princess Grace Irish Library and was instrumental in the idea behind the creation of the Library in 1984 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Although retired since last year, Pierre can still claim to be the longest-serving diplomat for the Irish government. He served as Consul General of Ireland to France for 50 years. He is an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy.
Pierre met the famous English writer Graham Greene in the 1970s when both lived in the same building in Antibes and they became lifelong friends. He was also a firm friend of the celebrated French writer Michel Déon, a member of the Académie française, who lived for the greater part of his life in Connemara in Ireland, where Pierre holidays each summer.
Pierre Joannon's book 'Graham Greene, Ireland and the Honorary Consul - A view from the South of France' was launched in October 2024 at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.
His most recent book ‘Michel Déon de l’Académie française, Pierre Joannon, Correspondance 1973-2016’ was published in January 2025.
Pierre wrote the comprehensive foreword to the commemorative book to mark the 40th anniversary of the Princess Grace Irish Library, which traces the history of this wonderful institution, inaugurated by Prince Rainier III and inspired by his late wife Princess Grace, née Grace Kelly.
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About Dr Eamon Maher
Eamon Maher is Director of the National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies in TU Dublin, which is based in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. He is the General Editor of two book series with Peter Lang Oxford, Reimagining Ireland (138 titles) and Studies in Franco-Irish Relations (23 titles) and is a regular contributor to The Irish Times newspaper.
In 2016, Dr Maher was made Officier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques for his work in promoting Franco-Irish Relations. Eamon is also an internationally acclaimed expert on the work of the Irish novelist John McGahern (1934-2006) and has published two books, two edited collections, in addition to several newspaper and journal articles on various aspects of his work.
Eamon’s PhD in French literature dealt with the French priest-writer Jean Sulivan (1913-1980), on whom he has published a monograph in French and numerous articles. He is currently writing another study entitled The Prophetic Voice: Jean Sulivan’s Ongoing Relevance in France and Ireland (forthcoming from Peter Lang in 2025). In addition, he has a special interest in the Catholic Novel in France and further afield, particularly writers such as François Mauriac, Georges Bernanos, Flannery O’Connor, and, of course, the inimitable Graham Greene.