Born into a working-class family, Epin attended primary school in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. He joined the French Communist Party in 1954 and the editorial team of L'École et la Nation, a communist magazine, in 1957. After his military service in Algeria, Epin became editorial secretary of the magazine. He also collaborated with the weekly Révolution, the monthly Regards, and L'Humanité.
In addition to his criticism in children's literature, Epin wrote ten essays, including Les livres de vos enfants, parlons-en in 1985. This essay defended the idea of emancipation in children's reading and stressed the need for children's studies to be democratized.
He served as mayor of Saint-Ouen from 1965 to 2001, and directed cultural affairs from 1971 to 1995.[2]
Epin died on 1 April 2020 at the age of 83 due to COVID-19.
