Philippe Besson (born 29 January 1967 in Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, Charente) is a French writer. In 1999, Besson, a law graduate, was inspired to write his first novel, En l'absence des hommes while reading of accounts of ex-servicemen during the First World War. The novel, with its daring inclusion of Marcel Proust as a central character, won the Prix Emmanuel Roblès. Besson's second novel, Son Frère was shortlisted for the Prix Femina, and adapted for cinema by Patrice Chéreau in 2003. The fi ...