Édouard Louis recounts how he turned himself from a boy in a poor northern French village into a student, then a writer in Paris. He describes his attempts to hide his accent, learn middle-class tastes in clothes, books, and food, and move through elite circles, helped by lovers and mentors. At the same time he reflects on the violence of his family and the shame that fuels his need to change. He sets out to ask what it takes to leave one's class behind and what is lost, writing in a direct, autobiographical style.
Readers who liked The End of Eddy or the work of Annie Ernaux will find a continuation of this thread. It suits those interested in class, sexuality, and self-reinvention.
Deep and inward-looking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Publisher
- Seuil
- ISBN
- 9782021483048
- Language
- FR
