The the elegance of the hedgehog community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Paloma is the daughter of an upperclass family living in the upscale parisian apartment building where renee works. Michael dirda, the washington post the elegance of the hedgehog is about love. Walking a careful line between popular and literary fiction. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. If you like slow paced books, books that make you think this is a book for you. Discover book depositorys huge selection of muriel barbery books online. The elegance of the hedgehog is, by the end, quite. In many other countries, while it may not have made the bestseller lists, it nonetheless has enjoyed considerable success. The elegance of the hedgehog is a meaningoflife book, but instead of focussing on the child who fears becoming part of the odious adult world it centres on the old woman whom life has largely passed by. May 14, 2009 muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. L elegance du herisson the elegance of the hedgehog, muriel barbery the elegance of the hedgehog french. Published in france in 2006 and in the uk in 2008, it has gone on to sell. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781906040185, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The the elegance of the hedgehog community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. Set in a paris apartment building, this is the story of the concierge renee, who pretends to be totally uncultivated, but is actually an. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781933372600, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A curious look at life, love, philosophy, art and literature as seen through the eyes of a 54yearold concierge and her 12yearold tenant. Published in france in 2006 and in the uk in 2008, it has gone on to sell more than 6 million copies worldwide and has been described by le figaro as the publishing phenomenon of the decade. Its the story about two parisian ladies renee, a concierge, and paloma, a genius 12 year old, both of whom conform to image society has said they should conform to whilst being quite someone else when no one is watching. Sep 02, 2008 renee is the concierge of a grand parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. May 28, 2009 the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781906040185, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Therefore, there is a lot of musing on philosophical questions done by primarily renee, who identifies both. The elegance of the hedgehog is a moving, funny, atmospheric novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.
Marie claire france an exquisite book in the form of a philosophical fable that has. Chapters 17, journal of the movement of the world no. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on. Its very much a characterdriven book with little plot, but once the characters begin to grab you, youll be hooked. Sep 30, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781933372600, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers. Robert adams on the elegance of the hedgehog youtube. The fact that both the widow and the girl are well read does nothing to assuage the deep existential angst they suffer from as they pretend they are as shallow. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of. This was one of the best books ive read in the last few months.
The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel by writer muriel barbery. Praise for the elegance of the hedgehog gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bitersweet. Sep 07, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. In this novel, renee michel is a concierge who believes that every concierge is perceived as unintelligent by those for whom they work. That is until a japanese businessman moves into the building and brings the two characters together.
The book follows events in the life of a concierge, renee michel, whose deliberately concealed intelligence is uncovered by an unstable. Elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 97819083126, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Inspired by the beloved new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog, by. The best books ever written, selected by book depository customers. The elegance of the hedgehog is frequently cited as the best book set in paris. She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam, and paris, and now lives in the french countryside. Muriel barbery muriel barbery is the author of the new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog europa, 2008, gourmet rhapsody europa, 2009, and the life of elves europa, 2016. Renee, the buildings concierge, is short, ugly, and plump. Ive come a little late to this book although translated into english in 2008, muriel barberys second novel was first published in french back in. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel of personal identity that will inspire the reader to face life head on, rather than hiding behind masks that are designed to deceive not only the outside world, but ourselves as well. We are in an elegant hotel particulier in the center of paris. Although they are passing strangers, it is through renees observations and palomas journal entries that the elegance of the hedgehog reveals the absurd lives of the wealthy. Btba best translated book award nominee for fiction longlist 2009, prix des libraires 2007, brivelagaillarde readers prize 2007, frenchamerican foundation translation prize nominee for fiction 2008.
For this reason, renee goes to great lengths to hide the. The elegance of the hedgehog has been described as a toolbox one can look into to resolve lifes problems, a lifetransforming read, and a lifeaffirming book. Muriel barbery quotes author of the elegance of the hedgehog. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book club. While brimming with audacity and indignation, the elegance of the hedgehog is tempered by a smooth infusion of sophisticated humor and a boundless passion for art.
It has been a bestseller in france, spain, germany, italy, south korea, and america. A strange country, by the author of the elegance of the hedgehog, is a literary fantasy for fans of ka. The story of renee, an older woman who is concierge of an apartment building in paris, and of paloma, a 12 year old girl who lives with her family in the building. The elegance of the hedgehog has been published in 35 languages, in over 25 countries. This novel speaks not only of film, music, and literature, but also reflects on the more subtle and forgotten arts of relationship, perception, and understanding. Oct 02, 2017 in the elegance of the hedgehog, a lot can happen when a middleaged concierge and a precocious twelveyearold girl connect thanks to the influence of a retired japanese businessman.
Renee, the concierge, is witness to the lavish but vacuous lives of her numerous employers. For this reason, renee goes to great lengths to hide the fact that she often spends her days reading marx and tolstoy. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with societys expectations of what a concierge should be. The elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read. The book s attractive, amelieesque parisian setting and cast of eccentrics will appeal to many. The book was pressing hard on a couple of my hot buttons and i thought i was going the hedgehog 2011 rotten tomatoes movie info. Despair and deliverance in art, literature, and movement of. The elegance of the hedgehog, a novel by muriel barbery. Lelegance du herisson is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog is a pleasant story with a colorful cast of.
The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, paperback. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery goodreads. Sep 12, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read. Btba best translated book award nominee for fiction longlist 2009, prix des libraires 2007, brivelagaillarde readers prize 2007, frenchamerican foundation translation prize nominee for fiction. The elegance of the hedgehog book by muriel barbery. Sep, 2008 it is a profound but accessible book not quite proust, then, which elegantly treads the line between literary and commercial fiction. The book follows events in the life of a concierge, renee michel, whose deliberately concealed intelligence is uncovered by an unstable but intellectually precocious girl named paloma josse. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery penguin september 2008 325pp no spoilers the short of it. The elegance of the hedgehog, by muriel barbery vulpes libris. Please contact us for details on condition of available copies of the book.
Muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. Aug 26, 2008 the second novel but first to be published in the united states from francebased author barbery teaches philosophical lessons by shrewdly exposing rich secret lives hidden beneath conventional exteriors. Oct 24, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog has apparently sold a million copies in france, where it is a proverbial publishing phenomenon. Paloma learns her lessons, of course, but the central figure is the concierge. Discover book depository s huge selection of muriel barbery books online. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, alison anderson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This was one of the best books ive read in the last few months definitely one to pick up on your next order.
We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery, 2007 penguin group usa 336 pp. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery librarything. The author of the elegance of the hedgehog, muriel barbery, is a philosophy professor.
309 1526 990 1347 1109 1046 901 135 545 68 1264 963 623 834 1119 702 289 532 739 1022 963 1400 372 1546 401 254 264 1554 766 756 1443 83 388 1136 417 1031 876 1472 871 1071 1484 961 1307 338