The Paris Trilogy: A Life in Three Stories

The Paris Trilogy is a powerful exploration of sexuality, bodily autonomy, friendship, loss, and renewal by French author Colombe Schneck, translated by Lauren Elkin and Natasha Lehrer. It follows the lives of two little Parisian liberals, Colombe and Héloïse, from childhood to old age, as they navigate love affairs, work, marriage, children, and divorce. Colombe reconnects with Gabriel in her fifties, and their relationship is passionate and transformative. The novel is praised for its vitality and deep study of existence at various ages and stages of life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2024
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

The Paris Trilogy, a celebrated French author Colombe Schneck's first English language publication, is a powerful exploration of sexuality, bodily autonomy, friendship, loss, and renewal. Schneck's semi-autobiographical takes on a woman's life are written in response to Annie Ernaux and in conversation with Elena Ferrante. The story follows Colombe, a seventeen-year-old Parisian in 1984, who becomes pregnant and must grapple with the body that has brought the precarity of her freedom into focus. Colombe and Héloïse, two little Parisian liberals, are friends since the age of eleven and follow parallel paths: university, love affairs, work, marriage, children, divorce, and more love affairs. As they age, they become the most enduring witnesses to each other's lives until illness betrays them. In her fifties, Colombe reconnects with Gabriel, and their relationship is passionate and transformative. Through their relationship, Colombe discovers many things about herself, including a newfound appreciation for swimming and the euphoria and strength of a body learning when to push and when to let go. This writing is valuable and has immense vitality. It features a female narrator with a direct and bright-eyed stare at the world and herself, without shame or faux modesty. It is also a deep study of existence at various ages and stages in life.

Weight: 344g
Dimension: 224 x 142 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398529397