Académie elects first ever Briton

A POET, literary critic and translator who writes French poetry “with virtuosity” has become the first Briton to be elected to the Académie Française.

After being a candidate in two previous elections to the prestigious body, Michael Edwards, 74, is taking up seat 31, vacant since the death of poet Jean Dutourd.

He is just in time, as, since 2010, there has been an age limit of 75 to join the Académie, aimed at giving a more youthful feel to the group known as “Les Immortels” (on the principle that its 40 seats are always occupied).

Prof Edwards gained 14, 14 and 16 in three voting rounds, beating Jean-Noël Jeanneney, a former minister and president of Radio France.