Erik Orsenna to announce shock retirement?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Paris
  • Last updated on

French academician created a stir on Friday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Orsenna fans. Speculation had been rife that the French academician will announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 79, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 08/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an author isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an author just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouErik

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouErik was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouErik.”
— @DesireePlum, 7 Aug 2026
“I thought Erik Orsenna retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 7 Aug 2026

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