Though barbery adopts the hedgehog as her governing metaphor, the book is a hedgehog turned inside out superficially warm and cuddly, but. L elegance du herisson is her second novel, which has been highly acclaimed in the press and was awarded the prix du rotary international 2007her first book, une gourmandise gallimard, 2000 has been translated into twelve languages. Pretentious and devastating, but im glad that i read it. May 28, 2009 muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and bestselling author. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, translated by alison anderson 2009. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, translated. Review of the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, plus backstory and other interesting facts about the book. I couldnt remember the title when i reached the library catalogue but i remembered that the word hedgehog. Muriel barbery is the author of the international bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog, and gourmet rhapsody europa editions, 2009. Would you ever listen to anything by muriel barbery again. This is my second time enjoying reading the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the elegance of the hedgehog. Lelegance du herisson is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. Or will muriel barberys studied yet appealing commercial hit be a purely european phenomenon, exposing a cultural fault line. The elegance of the hedgehog is a great book, written with stylistically lovely prose and biting wit. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery books on. The elegance of the hedgehog by barbery, muriel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. French novelist barberys sensuous first novel, being released here after the phenomenal success of her second novel, the elegance of the hedgehog, encompasses a series of witty reflections on. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, translated by alison anderson 2009 barbery, muriel on. However, i persevered and finally ended up liking this book. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery alibris. In many other countries, while it may not have made the bestseller lists, it nonetheless has enjoyed considerable success. It is a profound but accessible book not quite proust, then, which elegantly treads the line between literary and commercial fiction.
The elegance of the hedgehog has apparently sold a million copies in france, where it is a proverbial publishing phenomenon. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery, 2007 penguin group usa 336 pp. For muriel barbery, its elves who are elegant now the new. 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 is a highwire performance. Its very much a characterdriven book with little plot, but once the characters begin to grab you, youll be hooked. Muriel barbery quotes author of the elegance of the hedgehog. For muriel barbery, its elves who are elegant now the. 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. The book follows events in the life of a concierge. Feb 20, 2016 for hedgehog lovers, the title of muriel barberys 2006 global best seller, the elegance of the hedgehog, was a bit of a tease. Oct 24, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog has apparently sold a million copies in france, where it is a proverbial publishing phenomenon.
Do you think the elegance of the hedgehog needs a followup book. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel i would probably never have considered reading had it not been selected as part of a bookclub recommendation. This is not to say that the book wont be hugely successful in the englishspeaking world. As previously mentioned, these parts of the book gave me the impression that barbery perhaps wanted to write a book on philosophy, but chose instead to disguise it thinly, i might add, in a hodgepodge of disturbed characters who need serious therapy. Paloma learns her lessons, of course, but the central figure is the concierge. An enchanting new york times and international bestseller and awardwinner about life, art, literature, philosophy, culture, class, privilege, and power, seen. Muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. The elegance of the hedgehog book by muriel barbery. Muriel barberys second novel the elegance of the hedgehog, was a worldwide publishing sensation in 200607. Sep 12, 2008 muriel barbery is a professor of philosophy and you can see this in her writing. I read the translation from the french by alison anderson.
Rare interview with muriel barbery europa editions. About 10 years ago a friend recomended that i read this book. The elegance of the hedgehog audiobook by muriel barbery. There are 68 chapters terse albeit chapters each with a zinger for a closing sentence or thesis. The elegance of the hedgehog the phenomenal new york times bestseller that explores the upstairsdownstairs goingson of a posh parisian apartment building publishers weekly. Buy a cheap copy of the elegance of the hedgehog book by muriel barbery. Review of the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery. I would have loved to love the elegance of the hedgehog and truthfully, i dont hate it. The elegance of the hedgehog ebook written by muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery the guardian. The concepts of art and discrimination cross cultural lines and ms. The titular hedgehog is allegorical and never appears in the. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book club. The elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read.
The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It has been a bestseller in france, spain, germany, italy, south korea, and america. Elegance of the hedgehog unabridged by muriel barbery paid audiobooks best sellers. Muriel barberys second novel the elegance of the hedgehog, was a worldwide. She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam, and paris, and now lives in the french countryside. The elegance of the hedgehog is translated by alison anderson, author of two books hidden latitudes. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery translated by alison anderson gallic books. Elegance of the hedgehog unabridged by muriel barbery. There are a lot of philosophy descriptions in this book which i found to be tedious.
Critic and educator robert adams lectures on the elegance of the hedgehog. Muriel barberys the elegance of the hedgehog is a delightful read right up there with persigs zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. Pdf the elegance of the hedgehog book by muriel barbery. Muriel barbery born 28 may 1969 is a french novelist and philosophy teacher. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery books. Her 2006 novel the elegance of the hedgehog quickly sold more than a million copies. Book reflections the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery telegraph. The phenomenal new york times bestseller that explores the upstairsdownstairs goingson of a posh parisian apartment building publishers weekly. Buy the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery online at alibris. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery goodreads.
Her first book, une gourmandise, has been translated into twelve languages. She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam and now lives in the french countryside. Sep 07, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. The elegance of the hedgehog, by muriel barbery, trans. The character of ozu was most endearing and interesting so if another barbery book had characters more like ozu but less like renee and paloma, i would be much more interested. This was one of the best books ive read in the last few months definitely one to pick up on your next order. Rare interview with muriel barbery from the albany timesunion the elegance of the hedgehog focuses on two supersmart, supersolitary female characters each of whom goes to great lengths to hide and protect her rich inner life from others and the unlikely friendship that grows up between them. Sep 02, 2008 muriel barbery is the author of the international bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog, and gourmet rhapsody europa editions, 2009.
Lelegance du herisson is her second novel, which has been highly acclaimed in the press and was awarded the prix du rotary international 2007her first book, une gourmandise gallimard, 2000 has been translated into twelve languages. For hedgehog lovers, the title of muriel barberys 2006 global best seller, the elegance of the hedgehog, was a bit of a tease. The elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. French novelist barbery s sensuous first novel, being released here after the phenomenal success of her second novel, the elegance of the hedgehog, encompasses a series of witty reflections on. Mar 12, 2020 muriel barberys the elegance of the hedgehog is a delightful read right up there with persigs zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. May 14, 2009 muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. The elegance of the hedgehog has been published in 35 languages, in over 25 countries. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery.
May 25, 2009 muriel barbery is lovely, not unlike the exquisite prose of her runaway hit novel, the elegance of the hedgehog. Muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and bestselling author. Both honest and artfully executed, the elegance of the hedgehog strikes a universal chord leaving the reader much wiser for the journey. Published in france in 2006, muriel barberys second novel has been a huge hit. Muriel barbery is a professor of philosophy and you can see this in her writing. 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. Translated from the french, there were definitely some cultural references that i, as an american, did not understand at all, but there were also common human elements that really came across at the end. This is not to say that the book wont be hugely successful in the english speaking world. Paloma is the daughter of an upperclass family living in the.
Muriel barbery is lovely, not unlike the exquisite prose of her runaway hit novel, the elegance of the hedgehog. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 325 pages and is available in paperback format. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery europa editions. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, paperback.
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. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery abebooks. In an elegant h tel particulier in paris, ren e, the concierge, is all but invisibleshort, plump, middleaged, with bunions on her feet and an addiction to television soaps. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery and alison anderson overview the phenomenal new york times bestseller that explores the upstairsdownstairs goingson of a posh parisian apartment building publishers weekly. All these strands provide muriel barbery a parisborn onetime philosophy teacher who now lives in japan with the opportunity to explore her favourite theme.
Muriel barbery currently lives in japan with her husband. Barberys frustration with the world and its lack of passion is perhaps why this work translates so well. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781906040185, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Sep 02, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog ebook written by muriel barbery. Alison anderson s translations for europa editions include novels by selim nassib, amelie nothomb, and ericemmanuel schmitt.
Barbery s frustration with the world and its lack of passion is perhaps why this work translates so well. Muriel barbery is the author of the new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog europa, 2008, and gourmet rhapsody europa, 2009. Free download or read online the elegance of the hedgehog pdf epub book. May 10, 2019 the elegance of the hedgehog is a different book. A lot of cultural references are made in this book to art, tolstoy, sciif and to japanese films which some readers may or may not get.