Joan Bodon

Joan Bodon (Occitan pronunciation: [dʒwam buˈðu]; French: Jean Boudou), who was born in Crespin, Aveyron, Occitania (France) on December 11, 1920, and died on February 24, 1975, in Algeria.

His mother was a contaira, or storyteller, from Rouergue (and distant relative of Honoré de Balzac) and paved the way for his love and frequent use of traditional Occitan language folktales and figures.

Together with Renat Nelli, Marcela Delpastre, Robèrt Lafont, and Max Roqueta, Bodon ranks among the most prominent Occitan writers of the twentieth century.

Back in Durenque, Joan was married to Camille Vidal before moving again to Mauron de Maleville (1949–1955)[2] and returning close to home in Saint-Laurent-d'Olt (1955–1967), still as a teacher.

Written entirely in Occitan, his mother tongue, and despite the usual contempt of the Parisian élite for minority languages, his works include a number of novels, stories and poems inspired by the universality of life.