Has French writer Dominique Lapierre, who wrote internationally renowned novels such as The City of Joy, Bigger Than Love and Paris on Fire, died at the age of 91? (the latter together with Larry Collins). From Paris burns? The 1966 film of the same name, directed by René Clément, was made, while a 1992 film from The City of Joy, directed by Rolan Joffé and starring actor Patrick Swayze, was made.
Lapierre was born in 1931 in Châtelaillon-Plage, a small town in western France, in New-Aquitaine. He also worked extensively as a journalist and was a correspondent for the French magazine Paris Match for 14 years; during this time he also lived in India, where his most famous novel The City of Joy is set (in Kolkata). Lapierre also became known for his extensive charitable commitments: in 1982, with the support of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, he founded the large association Action pour les enfants des lépreux de Calcutta (“Action for leper children from Calcutta”). His health had deteriorated significantly since 2012 after being in a coma for more than a month after an accident: his latest book “The Last Will Be the First” is from that year.