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French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf, a new member of the Academie Francaise (French Academy, part of the Institut de France) delivers a speech on June 14, 2012 at the Institut de France in Paris during a ceremony to mark his new membership in the institution. Maalouf, 63, dressed in the Academie Francaise’s members’ traditional green uniform, joined the “immortals”, the term used to designate the 40 members of the Academie. Maalouf has published several novels that focus on the themes of Arab religious and national identity, in addition to journalism articles, essays and works of history. AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS GUILLOT