Catherine
Lapautre
Agent
Managing Director
Literary agency
Representing mostly English-language publishers and agents for French-language rights, Michelle Lapautre Agency has been striving for the past fifty years to increase the presence of English-language authors in French-speaking countries.
The agency was founded in 1961 in New York by Georges Borchardt, in association with Michelle Lapautre based in Paris. In 1968, Michelle Lapautre Agency became fully independent. Michelle made it one of the most important French literary agencies. Her daughter Catherine Lapautre joined the agency in 1994 and took over its management after Michelle retired. Michelle, who passed away in January 2020, “contributed to raise the reputation of the profession, which is above all that of a ‘facilitator’” (Le Monde).
News
LA THÉORIE LET THEM
#1 des meilleures ventes du New York Times
THE UNCOLLECTED STORIES OF MAVIS GALLANT
Gallant is the genius absurdist of the 20th century. She blurs her reader’s sight, but in that blur are images of real, moving people. – The New York Times
LA LOCATAIRE
À paraître en février 2026 chez City Éditions
LOVE FINDS A WAY
A New York Times Bestseller
TOUT CE QUI VIT ET RESPIRE
Prix Pulitzer 2025 catégorie Biographie
NULLE PART OÙ REVENIR
Prix Transfuge Polar 2025
Henry Wise invité à Quais du Polar 2026
ONE LEG ON EARTH
An astonishing talent – Lauren Groff
HYSTÉRIE COLLECTIVE
Prix Transfuge du roman américain 2026
HOLE IN THE SKY
Mind-bending…. Indigenous knowledge collides with science fiction in a thrilling page-turner. – Sterlin Harjo, filmmaker and writer
HOW TO CHANGE A MEMORY
[A] riveting debut, which blends personal narrative and scientific analysis. – Publishers Weekly
THE LOCK-KEEPER’S WIFE
A delicate, dense portrait of one woman’s restless, beautiful mind, her passionate commune with nature, and the neglects she endures and, wonderfully, rises above. – Nuala O’Connor
BORED
Droits cédés dans 6 territoires
À paraître aux Éditions Kaléidoscope
TRIAGE
One of our essential thinkers about race, difference, politics, and the United States of America. – Viet Thanh Nguyen
EL JUICIO
L’histoire de l’Inquisition contre Goya
LET US DESCEND
Finaliste du Grand prix de littérature américaine 2025
TAILBONE
A poignant tale about survival and womanhood
Representations
Download the list as a PDFUSA
Adams Literary
(upon request)
The Fielding Agency
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
(upon request)
Raines & Raines
Jane Rotrosen Agency
(upon request)
OTHER AGENTS
Team
Claire
de Robespierre
Agent
Contracts Director
Mathilde
Lamborot
Agent
Senior Rights Manager
(adult titles)
Philippine
Labreuil
Rights Assistant
(children/YA titles
& graphic novels)
Mathilde
Caër
Rights Manager
(reversions, renewals, permissions)
Stella
Jean-Baptiste
Accountant
Contact