The Elegance of the Hedgehog

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Complex characters & culture in modern Paris.

The book explores the depths of human emotion and the complexity of societal hierarchy through the eyes of Rene and Paloma. It is a good read for those who appreciate character-driven stories and want to explore the dynamics of class and culture. The French setting adds another layer of depth to the story.

  • BTBA Best Translated Book Award Nominee for Fiction Longlist (2009)
  • Prix des Libraires (2007)
  • Brive-La-Gaillarde Readers Prize (2007)
  • French-American Foundation Translation Prize Nominee for Fiction (2008)
  • Prix Georges Brassens (2006)
  • Dublin Literary Award Nominee for Shortlist (2010)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Regular price ₱644.85
Unit price
per
ISBN: 9781906040185
Estimated First-hand Retail Price: ₱1,140.30
Publisher: Gallic Books
Date of Publication: 2008-06-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Literary Fiction, Contemporary
Goodreads rating: 3.8
(rated by 182926 readers)

Description

Renée is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with society's expectations of what a concierge should be. But beneath this facade lies the real Renée passionate about culture and the arts, and more knowledgeable in many ways than her employers with their outwardly successful but emotionally void lives. Down in her lodge, apart from weekly visits by her one friend Manuela, Renée lives resigned to her lonely lot with only her cat for company. Meanwhile, several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma Josse is determined to avoid the pampered and vacuous future laid out for her, and decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. But unknown to them both, the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours will dramatically alter their lives forever. By turn moving and hilarious, this unusual novel became the French publishing phenomenon of 2007: from an initial print run of 3,000 to sales of over 2 million in hardback. It took 35 weeks to reach the number one bestseller spot but has now spent longer in the French bestseller lists than Dan Brown.
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Similar Reads

Complex characters & culture in modern Paris.

The book explores the depths of human emotion and the complexity of societal hierarchy through the eyes of Rene and Paloma. It is a good read for those who appreciate character-driven stories and want to explore the dynamics of class and culture. The French setting adds another layer of depth to the story.

  • BTBA Best Translated Book Award Nominee for Fiction Longlist (2009)
  • Prix des Libraires (2007)
  • Brive-La-Gaillarde Readers Prize (2007)
  • French-American Foundation Translation Prize Nominee for Fiction (2008)
  • Prix Georges Brassens (2006)
  • Dublin Literary Award Nominee for Shortlist (2010)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.