Mounsi

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Mounsi (born 1951) is a French novelist and singer, born in Kabylie, Algeria. Aged seven, his father brought him to live in France, growing up in the red-belt suburb of Nanterre in Paris. Petty crime saw him in borstal, where he discovered his voice as an author after reading the poetry of Francois Villon.

His only work published in English translation is The Demented Dance (Black Amber, 2003), which was originally published in France in 1986. The book was released to substantial acclaim in the UK and like his other French novels, is the recipient of a number of literary prizes. It draws heavily on Mounsi's growing up amidst petty crime in the red-belt suburbs and could be seen as a companion piece for films like La Haine.

In addition to writing fiction, Mounsi has written a number of plays and recorded three albums for the French label Disques Motors.