As if an impossible dream became reality

If we take care, it should be noted that in each Christophe Honoré film, can be seen on the screen, a book of the Editions of the olive tree. "The beloved", presented at Cannes, are no exception to the rule. A small wink to which publishes novels since "The Infamille" in 1997. A mark of fidelity, also.

Son of a Director of Polydor and a future psychoanalyst, 12November "anti-althussérien", Olivier it first in the Edition, in the company of Gérard Guéguand and Raphaël Sorin in the Jean-Claude Fasquelle Sagittarius. "I learned the Edition with unconventional people." Our line was to be against anything. To otherwise all our collections began with the word "against". "His first mission: Sting Bukowski at the Humanoïdes Associés. It will retrieve the author of the "gross an old log", drunk, at the foot of the aircraft. He dessaoulera not a week, evidenced in a passage in "Apostrophes".

Learning continues in Mazarine as demanding, but well intentioned Claude Durand. He rate of just the Goncourt with Vautrin (which obtain it two years after passing at Grasset - a lesson...). Later, Claude Cherki threshold offers him to create his publishing house. "They gave me the opportunity of e fair I want without having to ask permission.". I was going to save time and energy.

The basic idea is simple: is no aesthetic compromise;. a "business model" Spartan (15 books a year, two employees). "I had noticed a huge revolution in tastes, especially for foreign literature. There was a generational shift. Between 1993 and 1998, 60 of current writers emerged from Earth. In short, there was change in the air...

The beginnings are catastrophic. "It were the first bombings on Baghdad, one in bookstores". My pain was immense. "After three years, Cohen must relinquish the 51 that it has to become a simple employee. Little by little, however, the success emerges. The Olivier became synonymous with quality. The largest invite themselves catalogue: Raymond Carver (an old acquaintance...), Jeffrey Eugenides, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jonathan Franzen, Cormac McCarthy, Jay McInerney, Armistead Maupin, Rick Moody, Stewart O'Nan, Michael Ondaatje, Will Self, Hubert Selby Jr... (it enrage to not quote all). In the French catalog, note: Olivier Adam, Florence Aubenas, Geneviève Brisac, Agnès Desarthe, Marie Desplechin, Jean-Paul Dubois, Jean Hatzfeld, Guillaume Le Touze, Véronique Ovaldé, Valérie Zenatti... (idem...).

The roots of success Enthusiasm, confidence, fidelity, intuition, stubbornness, the excitement. "When an agent wake up in the middle of the night to tell me that the author accepts my proposal, I can no longer sleep me." As long as I am able to be excited or depressed, I will continue this job. "The last time, mid May, it was for"The Marriage Plot"of Jeffrey Eugenides, forthcoming.

These authors, had to go look for with teeth. Twenty-five years ago, the younger Cohen was belly dance to acquire the rights to a book of Carver. He obtained "after a number of hell of seduction". A quarter of a century later, the Olivier has the rights to the complete works of the who, meanwhile, became an icon, Cohen asked his agent by what miracle he had been elected, him the small Frenchie. "Because we liked you", was the answer. "I understood that in the United States should show that it can provide, but also human being."

Sometimes, luck gives a boost. Agent Jay McInerney, it made a modest offer. "It will not pose any problem, means answer, unbeliever.". It is a perfect stranger. "It will not long remain. For "The Corrections", of Franzen, Cohen préempte on the basis of passages read in a magazine. "I was taped." I proposed 25,000 euros and he accepted my offer. My colleagues were mad rage; one of them wanted to cancel the contract. "Soon, the Olivier will publish"Freedom", novel in which"Time", is exceptional, dedicated its cover in August 2010.

Strong emotions, Olivier Cohen pick shovel. He remembers the day where he caught the salmon off the coast of Seattle with Raymond Carver and Richard Ford. It is the first key. Rule on board, it is every man for himself. But Cohen who has never taken out a fish of water is the penalty. Richard Ford comes to the rescue: "I do not have the right to help you, but I have a duty to prevent you from Walnut te."

Cohen loves announce sponsors that they received an award. "A moment of pure happiness." It is not always well received. It was he who announced Richard Ford, then touring in Normandy, was the Pulitzer. Response from the winner: "it is not nice to make jokes...". "Another time, he announced to Jean Hatzfeld by satellite phone that he was awarded the price December unanimously. "I me in crazy." You hear no It shells falling. The facade of the hotel comes from collapsing. "He was in Sarajevo.

He also remembers the emotion that hugged him when Hubert Selby Jr. (a legend, the author of "Last Exit to Brooklyn" passed to oblivion) received on the plateau of "nowhere else". "I have burst into tears." As if an impossible dream became reality. I said to myself: "I have done." It was like two worlds télescopaient. "An editor who is crying... an oxymoron