Claude Tchou
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Claude Tchou | |
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| Born | Claude Marie Gaston Leon Kuoe Wy Thou 26 October 1923 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium |
| Died | 31 March 2010 (aged 86) Paris, France |
| Occupation | Publisher |
Claude Marie Gaston Leon Kuoe Wy Tchou (26 October 1923 – 31 March 2010) was a French publisher.
Early life and education
[edit]Claude Tchou was the son of Laure Maere, a Belgian citizen, and Shiavy Tchou, ambassador of the Republic of China to Belgium.[1]
He studied in Belgium, where he earned a degree in philosophy and a degree in literature.[2]
Career
[edit]In 1958, he faced legal proceedings for publishing L'Anti-Justine by Restif de la Bretonne, and narrowly avoided a six-month prison sentence. That same year, he created the Cercle du livre précieux, which operated exclusively through subscription.
In 1962, he founded Éditions Tchou, where he directed the collection "Les Guides noirs". That same year, he published the complete works of Franz Kafka in France for the first time, in an edition established and annotated by Marthe Robert.[3]
In 1968, he published Histoire d'O by Pauline Réage, illustrated by Leonor Fini, which was immediately banned for minors. In 1970, L'Express took control of the Cercle du livre précieux and Éditions Tchou.
In 1999, he launched La Bibliothèque des introuvables, which reprinted rare books, such as the 32 volumes of Napoleon's correspondence.[4]
Throughout his career, Tchou published works by notable figures including Paul Éluard, Max Ernst, Jacques Lacan, André Breton, Tristan Tzara, La Vilaine Lulu by Yves Saint-Laurent, and the Encyclopédie Cousteau.
Personal life and death
[edit]Tchou was married three times; first, to Annie Bleu, with whom he had three children: Olivier, Françoise, and Isabelle; then to journalist Michèle Cotta, with whom he had two children: Thierry and Stéphanie, before divorcing. Lastly, he was married to Joan Van Eisner, whom he also divorced. He was also the biological father of high-ranking civil servant and politician Philippe Martel.[5]
Tchou died in Paris on 31 March 2010, at the age of 86.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Leprince, Chloé (1 March 2018). ""Interdit d'interdire", "CRS SS"... l'histoire de l'Atelier populaire derrière les affiches de Mai 68". France Culture.
- ^ "La mort de Claude Tchou". Livres Hebdo.
- ^ La Bibliothèque des chefs-d'oeuvre. Paris: Au sans pareil éd. 199.
- ^ "L'éditeur Claude Tchou est décédé". L'Express. 6 April 2010.
- ^ "Philippe Martel, l'homme de Juppé passé chez Le Pen". L'Express. 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Claude Marie Gaston Leon Kuoe Wy Tchou". MatchID. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
