Orcel was a researcher at the European University Institute at Florence in 1976–1977 (seminars of teachers Charles Wilson and Alphonse Dupront [fr]) and resident at the Académie de France à Rome.

Although regretting that this essay is similar to a controversial "pamphlet", the critics nevertheless welcome a useful book that presents a nuanced reading of the Quran.

[12] Michel Orcel is also working on the emblematic, and in 2016 published Volume I of an article on the subject: Dictionnaire raisonné des devises (in coll.

As an author of fiction (poetry, novels), essays, encyclopedic works, translations, Orcel has received the following awards: "Diego Valeri" (Italy), "Nelly Sachs", and "Jules Janin" prizes of the Académie française[13] as well as the "Ortensia" prize of the S.I.D.E.F (Società Italiana dei Francesisti).

[17] A candidate in René Girard's chair at the Académie française during the election on 17 November 2016, Michel Orcel obtained 3 votes in the first round, against 3 for Gonzague Saint Bris and 11 for Daniel Rondeau.