Belgian by nationality, Amélie Nothomb was born in Kobe, Japan, and currently lives in Paris. Described by Time Magazine as ‘prolific and ingenious’, she is the best-selling author of numerous novels, translated into over thirty languages, including Fear and Trembling which won the Grand Prix of the Académie Française and the Prix Internet du Livre, and The Book of Proper Names which has sold over 250,000 copies in France.