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L'Elegance du Herisson (French Edition) Paperback – June 24, 2009

French Edition by Muriel Barbery (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,419 ratings
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Je m'appelle Renée, j'ai cinquante-quatre ans et je suis la concierge du 7 rue de Grenelle, un immeuble bourgeois. Je suis veuve, petite, laide, grassouillette, j'ai des oignons aux pieds et, à en croire certains matins auto-incommodants, une haleine de mammouth. Mais surtout, je suis si conforme à l'image que l'on se fait des concierges qu'il ne viendrait à l'idée de personne que je suis plus lettrée que tous ces riches suffisants. Je m'appelle Paloma, j'ai douze ans, j'habite au 7 rue de Grenelle dans un appartement de riches. Mais depuis très longtemps, je sais que la destination finale, c'est le bocal à poissons, la vacuité et l'ineptie de l'existence adulte. Comment est-ce que je le sais? Il se trouve que je suis très intelligente. Exceptionnellement intelligente, même. C'est pour ça que j'ai pris ma décision : à la fin de cette année scolaire, le jour de mes treize ans, je me suiciderai.
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  1. Print length
    414 pages
  2. Language
    French
  3. Publisher
    French and European Publications Inc
  4. Publication date
    June 24, 2009
  5. ISBN-10
    0320079562
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0320079566
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ French and European Publications Inc (June 24, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ French
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 414 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0320079562
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0320079566
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,419 ratings

About the author

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Muriel Barbery

Muriel Barbery

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Muriel Barbery (born 28 May 1969) is a French novelist and professor of philosophy.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Elena Torre from Viareggio, Italia (Muriel Barbery) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,419 global ratings
Beaucoup mieux en français qu'en anglais!
5 Stars
Beaucoup mieux en français qu'en anglais!
J'avais déjà lu le livre en anglais mais en le lisant en français j'ai découvert toutes les nuances du texte que j'avais manquées avec l'édition anglophone. Même s'il est vrai que le vocabulaire est un peu inhabituel et même ceux d'origine francophone pourront avoir besoin de leur Larousse de temps en temps, ça vaut vraiment le coup. Bref, j'ai adoré ce livre!
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Top reviews from the United States

labagel
5.0 out of 5 stars L'Elegance du herisson (in French)
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2010
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful book. Beautiful style. A portrait of an apartment building from the
point of view of the concierge and also of a teenage girl. The "herisson" is the concierge
who considers herself more elegant and more of a philosopher than her tenants even though
she has no formal education. When she has tea and "tuiles" (a special cookie) with her
friend one is reminded of Proust. Although the book has been translated into English, I
doubt that a translation can capture all the subtlties of language evoking the various
personalities. The Rue de Grenelle is a very high class neighborhood and the building
seems to be condos as there is talk of someone selling when usually apartments are handed
down generation to generation. The portraits of tenants are unusual, for example, a diplomat's
daughter who wants to be a veterinarian. Philosophical topics, human relations, in this
400 page book which is part essay, part vignette. I have been savoring it, and will be sorry
to finish it. I have often said that there are no decent contemporary French writers, but
this book makes me rethink that statement. The deceptively simple prose "Je m'appelle Renee, j'ai cinquante-quatre ans et je suis la concierge du 7 rue de Grenelle" gives way to philosophic
tales in one building much like Voltaire's "Candide" tells a tale while moving from place to
place. This book should be a classic. Review submitted by PhD in French.
2 people found this helpful
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Eva Foreman
5.0 out of 5 stars Very real with its unrealistic premise.
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
Exceptional book. It took me a little while to get into the rhythm
of it but then it soared. Not in any flashy way but went deep right into my heart. The concierge-first I had trouble to accept the fact that she is so refined and well read being what she did for a living.. One can say it was my prejudice. Paloma of course for all her intelligence is a typical teenager to start with but soon after we see that her awful and affluent family really has nothing to offer for her spiritual nourishment what she really craves.
I could not decide first whether it was a polemic against the shallow rich and the "noble" poor but I think this is beside the point. These people are individuals in all their complexity.
The end is both tragic and uplifting. This book made me think real
hard about true values. All the other criticism I read (repetitive, Renee is perfect etc) for me is unimportant.

One of the finest books I've read lately. It will stay with me for a long time.

Eva Foreman
3 people found this helpful
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Lynn Kerr
4.0 out of 5 stars A whimisical novel of ideas
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2016
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I bought this to read in parallel with the English version, but the novel turned out to be more "philosophical" and conceptual than I'd expected, so I didn't attempt the original French. For native readers in either language, I'd recommend it as a whimsical and thoughtful book -- not much action but some interesting ideas and two characters that really stick with you.
3 people found this helpful
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Naomi
5.0 out of 5 stars The best novel ever
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2018
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This must be one of the best novels I ever read, alongside "Anna Karenina" and "Belle du Seigneur". L'elegance du Herriossn is elegant, passionate and compassionate. It is wise and heartwrenching, it makes you laugh out loud and then cry, even if books do not make you cry. The downside is that you don't get to read many such books in a lifetime, even if you are a voracious reader. Read it in French, if you can, but if not order at once "The Elegance of a Hedgehog", you will thank the amazing writer: Muriel Barbery.
3 people found this helpful
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frgprints
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book. I happened upon it almost by accident and am glad that I did. I know that it has been published in English (and on the NY Times bestseller list) and I have looked at that version which is good but it doesn't have the nuances that this original French version does. For anyone who has lived in Paris, this book will brings smiles to your face as it captures the daily life of the Parisienne perfectly.
One person found this helpful
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lilacs
3.0 out of 5 stars Not easy reading. A few members of the reading had ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
Well written but too analytic and too wordy at times. Not easy reading. A few members of the reading had to buy the English translation !
I would not recommend it for readers who are not fluent in French. Too much of a casse-tete. Sometimes entertaining though but at the same a study of human behavior and class conflicts.
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sfw
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful quirky read
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2013
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I enjoyed this book greatly despite my rusty French. It is a funny thought-provoking character study of two women. An elderly intellectual concierge and a highly intelligent young girl reside downstairs and upstairs in the same building but in separate chapters of the book. They both struggle with the stereotypes that govern their lives and their own expectations of the lots life gave them. They caused me to giggle, shake my head and snort but also made me ponder the twists and turns in people's reactions to life. A friend says the English translation is also excellent.
One person found this helpful
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getupandgo
4.0 out of 5 stars Touchant, assez difficile pour les anglophones qui apprennent le français.
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
I’m a high intermediate French learner trying to improve my reading ability. I’m finding it difficult especially the parts by the “concierge”. May be best for truly advanced learners. Touching story. Interestingly enough I’m also reading “Crime et châtiment” (Dostoevsky) in French and I’m finding THAT easier!
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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France
5.0 out of 5 stars Un bijou de livre
Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2023
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Il s'agit d'un livre que je veux offrir en cadeau a ma fille. Une magnifique histoire qui fait aimer la vie!
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Luis Serra
5.0 out of 5 stars Surpreendente
Reviewed in Spain on April 1, 2024
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O início é um pouco duro, mas depois torna-se muito agradável. Contado a duas vozes, aborda reflexões sobre a vida, arte, filosofia, tendo como pano de fundo uma história e um romance muito emocionante.
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Cliente de Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Tamaño practico
Reviewed in Mexico on May 11, 2021
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Es pequeño
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Fuchs Joan
5.0 out of 5 stars Umwerfend
Reviewed in Germany on October 15, 2020
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Ich hatte den Film ja schon gesehen, der hatte mich total umgehauen, deshalb wollte ich das Buch noch lesen. Es war wirklich toll, wenn auch nicht ganz einfach zu lesen, da es einen extensiven Wortschatz benötigt. Eigentlich passiert gar nicht viel, doch wird alles so philosophisch und meditativ aufgefüllt, dass es doch sehr viel zu lesen gibt. Und zwar nicht einfach nur so schnell, schnell, man muss sich schon damit beschäftigen. Auch wenn ich den Schluss schon kannte, habe ich trotzdem geheult wie ein Schosshund. Man hat die Charaktere einfach sehr lieb gewonnen.
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A.M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnifico, da leggere e rileggere
Reviewed in Italy on July 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
un libro magnifico. Letto a suo tempo in versione italiana mi è piaciuto talmente da rileggerlo in lingua originale. Delicato, filosofico, essenziale mette in evidenza la differenza tra la visione formale della vita e delle gerarchie sociali e quella essenziale, profonda e reale della stessa.
Da leggere, rileggere, sottolineare, gustare. Meraviglioso
One person found this helpful
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