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WINNER OF THE PRIX RENAUDOT

‘This took my breath away, again and again. Lafon is magic … A thrilling read in Stephanie Smee’s masterful translation’ Anna Funder, Sunday Times bestselling author of Wifedom

‘A work of the purest literary quality: muscular and densely packed, yet graceful in all its movements, and glowing with brilliant detail’ Helen Garner, author of This House of Grief

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This is the story of a family and the secret that lies at its heart. André is the son, raised by his aunt in the French countryside. His mother Gabrielle, beautiful but distant, lives in Paris. Surrounded by his cousins, far from the noise of the city, André’s childhood is a happy one. No-one questions the absence of his mother, or dares voice the name of his father.

But beneath the quiet joy of the everyday lies a tragedy, passed down through the generations. Over time, the truth will come to the surface, whether the son desires it or not.

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‘An exquisite and mesmerising work of genius … Lafon is a name that should be known by readers everywhere’ Sarah Holland-Batt
‘A magnificent novel’ La Croix
‘[Lafon] breathes life into language . . . pure and rich’ Le Monde
‘Captivating and heartbreaking from beginning to end’ Le Figaro Magazine