{"product_id":"the-elegance-of-the-hedgehog-9798889661207","title":"The Elegance of the Hedgehog","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA moving, funny, triumphant novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn an elegant apartment building in the heart of Paris, Renée, the concierge, scrutinizes the vacuous lives of its well-to-do tenants. Outwardly she conforms to every stereotype of the concierge: plump, cantankerous, addicted to television. Yet, unbeknownst to her employers, Renée is a sophisticated autodidact who adores art, philosophy, music, and Japanese culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen there's Paloma, twelve years old. Convinced of the meaninglessness of life, she's decided to end her own on her thirteenth birthday. Until then she will continue behaving as everyone expects her to behave, hiding behind the mask of an average pre-teen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaloma and Renée hide both their true talents and their finest qualities from a world they suspect will not appreciate them. The arrival in the building of a wealthy Japanese tenant changes a delicate and fragile equilibrium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"This story, like all great tales, will break your heart, but it will also make you realize--or remember--that sometimes the pain is worth it.\"--\u003cem\u003eChicago Sun-Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBarbery, Muriel:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMuriel Barbery\u003c\/strong\u003e's novels include the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller, \u003cem\u003eThe Elegance of the Hedgehog\u003c\/em\u003e (Europa, 2008), \u003cem\u003eGourmet Rhapsody\u003c\/em\u003e (Europa, 2009), \u003cem\u003eA Single Rose \u003c\/em\u003e(Europa, 2022) and \u003cem\u003eOne Hour of Fervor \u003c\/em\u003e(Europa, 2024). She is also the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Writer's Cat\u003c\/em\u003es, illustrated by Maria Guitart, a short tale about esthetics, inspiration, the writing life, and cats. Barbery has lived in Kyōto, Amsterdam, and Paris, and now lives in the French countryside.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnderson, Alison:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlison Anderson \u003c\/strong\u003eis an author and the translator of around 100 books from French. Her translations for Europa Editions include novels by Amélie Nothomb, Sélim Nassib, and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Europa Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51199757648146,"sku":"9798889661207","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_ffa1f92a-d666-409e-981e-b490042c7d2f.jpg?v=1760433525","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-elegance-of-the-hedgehog-9798889661207","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}