Didier Decoin was twenty when he published his first book, Le ProcA s A l'amour. It was followed by some twenty other titles, including Abraham de Brooklyn and John l'Enfer. He is currently Secretary General of the AcadA mie Goncourt, has been Chairman of the A crivains de Marine since 2007 and is a member of the AcadA mie de Marine. He spent fourteen years on the writing of The Office of Gardens and Ponds.