Muriel Barbery: The master of words returns with a new novel!

Muriel Barbery: The master of words returns with a new novel!

Muriel Barbery, born on May 28, 1969 in Casablanca, is an author who has captivated countless readers with her work “L’Élégance du hérisson”. This poignant story, published by Gallimard in 2006, tells of the extraordinary friendship between a cultured concierge and a gifted child. In recent years, Barbery has also invested her creative energy in other projects that have accompanied her on her literary journey.

Growing up in the countryside of Touraine, Barbery had a passion for the written word from an early age. After studying at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure, she taught philosophy in Caen, Normandy. A formative experience was her two-year residency in Kyoto from 2008 to 2009, which not only opened up new cultural perspectives for her, but also influenced her literary work. Her preference for aesthetic movements and special voices, such as that of Billie Holiday, flow into her works.

The surprise success

“L’Élégance du hérisson” achieved widespread acclaim soon after its release. The novel describes how 54-year-old concierge Renée Michel and 13-year-old Paloma Josse, who both have different perspectives on life, become connected through an encounter with a Japanese culture vulture, Kakuro Ozu. Renée, who keeps her intelligence and education a secret from the outside world, lives hidden in her beautiful world - but her friends and her courage to live open new doors. This becomes particularly noticeable when Renée risks her life to help a homeless man.

Thanks to the positive feedback from readers and professional critics, the novel really took off: over a million copies had been sold by May 2008, and the book stayed at the top of the bestseller list for 30 weeks. Awards such as the Prix des libraires in 2007 confirmed the literary value of the work, which has now been translated into 34 languages. The film adaptation in 2008, directed by Mona Achache, was also very popular and attracted more than 750,000 viewers to the cinemas.

Current projects and future outlook

After the huge success of “L’Élégance du hérisson”, Barbery took a leave of absence and devoted himself to further literary challenges. Many remarkable steps were followed by works such as “La vie des elfes” and “Une rose seule”. Her latest book, “Thomas Helder,” which will be published in 2024, deals with a Dutch family dealing with the death of a relative. A central theme is friendship beyond death - a concept that is revisited again and again in Barbery's literature.

In April 2023, she worked with the illustrator Nicolas Vial on “Les Animaux Lettrés,” a work that is both serious and imaginative, opening up new perspectives for readers. Muriel Barbery remains a defining voice in contemporary literature, whose works have the potential to move people and provoke thought.

For anyone who would like to know more about Barbery and her fascinating works, the comprehensive information is available on Radio France, Wikipedia – L’Élégance du hérisson, and Wikipedia – Muriel Barbery available.