Gilles Pécout (; born 2 December 1961) is a French historian, academic and former diplomat who has been president of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) since 18 April 2024. He was formerly the Ambassador of France to Austria (20202024).
Biography Pécout was born in Marseille in 1961. He graduated from the École normale supérieure in Paris, where he was also a professor in and the director (20102014) of the History Department.Da Promotion pour Gilles Pécout à l’éducation nationale
He held the chair of Political and Cultural History of 19th-century Italy and Mediterranean Europe at the Sorbonne. He is known to the Italian public thanks to his participation in the RAI3 television programme Il tempo e la storia and its sequel Passato e presente, of which he was also a member of the scientific committee.
On 4 June 2014, Pécout was appointed rector of the Académie de Nancy-Metz. On 3 October 2016, he was appointed rector of the Académie de Paris.Décret du 15 septembre 2016 portant nomination d’un recteur su Legifrance
On 1 October 2020 he became Ambassador of France to Austria, when he presented his letter of credence to President Alexander Van der Bellen. He has been president of the Bibliothèque nationale de France since 18 April 2024.
Works The author of several works and scientific editions and director or co-director of eight volumes, Pécout has published 75 articles in French and foreign scientific journals (Italy, United States, Greece, United Kingdom, Japan, China) and occasionally collaborated with the daily newspapers Le Monde, Libération, and the Italian press.
Birth of Contemporary Italy, 17701922, Nathan, 1997; reissued, Armand Colin, 2004 Atlas of French History, Autrement, 2007 Grand Atlas of the History of France, under the direction of Jean Boutier, with Olivier Guyotjeannin, Autrement, 2011
Honours French honours Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur — 18 April 2014 Décret du 18 avril 2014 portant promotion et nomination. Légifrance. Chevalier de l'ordre national du Mérite — 14 May 2010 Décret du 14 mai 2010 portant promotion et nomination. Légifrance. Commandeur de l'ordre des Palmes académiques — 3 June 2014 Officier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres — 12 March 2019 Nomination dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres – hiver 2019. Ministry of Culture.
Italian honours Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic – 27 December 2021
References
External links
Treccani.it Sorbonne.fr