The French publishing phenomenon of 2008, which achieved sales of over 1 million in HB. The story of a singular concierge and the 12 year old who lives in her building, who plans to commit suicide on her 13th birthday. 'This breathtakingly singular novel... is totally French but completely universal' "Good Housekeeping"

Muriel Barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the author of four novels, including the IMPAC-shortlisted multimillion-copy bestseller The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Published in France in 2006 and in the UK in 2008, the novel was translated in 44 countries, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide, and was described by Le Figaro as ‘the publishing phenomenon of the decade’.

Alison Anderson is an author and the translator of around 100 books from French, including Muriel Barbery’s previous novels and works by Amélie Nothomb and J. M. G. Le Clézio.