'I got a letter one day, a long letter that wasn't signed.' Camille reads this narration of events from pre-war France, certain that it has been sent to her by mistake. Then more letters start to arrive - They tell of a friendship struck up between a young village girl, Annie, and Madame M, a bourgeois lady. To begin with the women simply share a love of art, but when Annie offers to carry a child for her infertile friend, their lives become intimately entwined. The child is born on the eve of the German invasion of France, and the repercussions of her birth are still felt decades later. This powerful first novel by Helene Gremillion is a gripping study of the destruction unleashed, when human desires for love and motherhood turn to obsession.
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About the Author:
Helene Gremillon was born in 1977 and lives in Paris. The Confidant is her first novel and has been translated from the original French into more than twenty languages.
Review:
"A book which truly touches our hearts." ELLE ‘A spellbinding tale of love and obsession’ Editor’s Pick, amazon.co.uk ‘The layers and echoes are skilfully compiled to offer a gripping account of both doomed love and wartime France’ Daily Mail ‘A heady tale of barren wombs, jealousy, betrayal and death’ Guardian ‘The past is skilfully and evocatively conjured ... the inner lives of Annie, Madame M and Louis are perfectly captured and convincing. It is an impressive debut.’ The Independent "A stunning mastery of narration, a sense of suspense worthy of a top-notch film. A gripping first novel." LE FIGARO LITTERAIRE "Helene Gremillon: remember this name! Scrupulously written, with fine and harmonious phrasing that renders the heroines' voices perfectly." LE POINT "Historical detail and suspense that persists up to the very last paragraph." LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR ‘The Confidant is a must read for anyone who loves intrigue. It will keep you guessing until the very last page – beautifully written, original and thoroughly engaging.’ Sandra Smith, translator of Suite Française ‘A gorgeous, captivating novel with brilliant storytelling. I finished it and wanted to start reading it all over again. It’s a novel that will stay with me.’ Amanda Hodgkinson, author of 22 Britannia Road ‘A mesmerising story of obsession, lies and secrets ... The twists and turns of the narrative will enthral you; as the plot intensifies so will your attention.’ Anne Rampton, Reviewer ‘This French bestseller delivers an intriguing plot that grabs your attention from the first page and keeps you guessing until the end’ France Magazine ‘An absolutely brilliant debut that builds in momentum, gradually unravelling the mysteries and inconsistencies of the plot to hold the reader in suspense to the final page’ We Love This Book ”Will amply reward patience with startling revelations formed through variations of viewpoint: 4 stars’ The Book Bag ‘A complex and moving portrait of love and sacrifice’ Book Oxygen
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherGallic Books
- Publication date2012
- ISBN 10 1908313293
- ISBN 13 9781908313294
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages272
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