Catherine Safonoff, born in Geneva in 1939, is an author of autobiographical novels. She has previously worked as a literary critic for the Journal de Genève and Radio Suisse Romande (RSR). She has written several screenplays for television as well as novel adaptations for cinema (Polenta by Jean-Marc Lovay for Maya Simon) and for theater (Wunschloses Unglück by Peter Handke). In 2007, she was awarded the Prix quadriennal of the city of Geneva in the literature category for her complete works, as well as the Prix Michel-Dentan. Her latest book, Le Mineur et le canari, was shortlisted for the Prix Fémina and received the Swiss Literature Prize.