The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
An enchanting New York Times and international bestseller and award-winner about life, art, literature, philosophy, culture, class, privilege, and power, seen through the eyes of a 54-year old French concierge and a precocious but troubled 12-year-old girl.
Renee Michel is the 54-year-old concierge of a luxury Paris apartment building. Her exterior ("short, ugly, and plump") and demeanor ("poor, discreet, and insignificant") belie her keen, questing mind and profound erudition.
Paloma Josse is a 12-year-old genius who behaves as everyone expects her to behave: a mediocre pre-teen high on adolescent subculture, a good but not outstanding student, an obedient if obstinate daughter. She plans to kill herself on the sixteenth of June, her thirteenth birthday.
Both Renee and Paloma hide their true talents and finest qualities from the bourgeois families around them, until a wealthy Japanese gentleman named Ozu moves into building. Only he sees through them, perceiving the secret that haunts Renee, winning Paloma's trust, and helping the two discover their kindred souls.
Moving, funny, tender, and triumphant, Barbery's novel exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.
About the Author
Muriel Barbery was born May 28th, 1969 in Casablanca, Morocco. She was raised in France. She entered the École muriel_barberyNormale Supérieure de Fontenay-Saint-Cloud in 1990 and obtained her agrégation in philosophy in 1993. She then taught philosophy at the Université de Bourgogne, in a lycée, and at the Saint-Lô IUFM. She currently lives in Japan with her husband Stéphane.
Format: Paperback | 320 pages
Dimensions (cm): 19.8 x 12.9 x 2.3 | 228g
Publication Date: 2008
Publisher: Gallic Books
Publication City/Country: London, United Kingdom
Language: English
ISBN10: 1906040184
ISBN13: 9781906040185
Condition: Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Some damage to the cover including minor scuff marks, and a long crease on the left-hand side of the front cover, and a long crease on the right-hand side of the back cover, both of which are thin and blend in with the artwork, and therefore not overly noticeable. The majority of pages are undamaged with no tiny creasing, but no tearing. No pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text and no writing in margins. No missing pages.