Gilles Lapouge talks about his life and his work. For the first time. As journalist for many years at Figaro Littéraire and France-Culture, Gilles Lapouge – who has also been writing a daily column in the largest Brazilian newspaper for a half a century – is now recognized as one of France’s greatest living writers. Essayist, “anti-traveler,” historian and novelist, Gilles Lapouge is first and foremost a lover of literature who has always explored the same themes – snow, utopia, borders, the passing of time, etc.. – although the format has varied. Here in these interviews with Christophe Mercier, Lapouge truly reveals himself in print for the first time ever, speaking of his childhood in Algeria, his beloved family, his friendships. He discusses post-war Paris, Brazil in the 50s, the press, television and radio. He mentions each of his books. He describes his way of traveling, and explains why he doesn’t consider himself a true traveler, like his friends at the Festival of travel writing in Saint Malo. Above all, he talks about his life’s passion – which gave its name to this volume, The House of Letters – literature, with long passages devoted to writers he admires, like Stendhal, Rimbaud, Dickens, Knut Hamsun and Jean Giono.