The Confidant, Helene Gremillon
The Confidant, Helene Gremillon
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The Confidant

Author: Helene Gremillon, Alison Anderson

Narrator: Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff, Natalie Moore

Unabridged: 7 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/30/2012


Synopsis

"A gripping first novel" (Le Figaro Littéraire) and an award-winning international sensation as haunting and unforgettable as Suite FrançaiseParis, 1975. Camille sifts through letters of condolence after her mother's death when a strange, handwritten missive stops her short. At first she believes she received it by mistake. But then, a new letter arrives each week from a mysterious stranger, Louis, who seems intent on recounting the story of his first love, Annie. They were separated in the years before World War II when Annie befriended a wealthy, barren couple and fell victim to a merciless plot just as German troops arrive in Paris. But also awaiting Camille's discovery is the other side of the story, which will call into question Annie's innocence and reveal the devastating consequences of jealousy and revenge. As Camille reads on, she begins to realize that her own life may be the next chapter in this tragic story.

About The Author

Hélène Grémillon was born in France in 1977. After obtaining degrees in literature and history, she worked as a journalist at the French newspaper Le Figaro before becoming a full-time writer. Her first novel, The Confidant, was awarded Monaco's Prince Pierre Literary Prize. She lives in Paris with her partner, singer and songwriter Julien Clerc, and their child.Ellen Archer has recorded nearly 175 audiobooks. She is a 2007 Audie Award winner for bio/memoir; 2008 Audie Finalist for religious fiction; 2011 Audie Finalist for multicast; and the winner of multiple Earphones and Publishers Weekly awards.Alison Anderson is an American writer and translator based in Switzerland. She is the author of Hidden Latitudes, Darwin’s Wink, and The Summer Guest. Anderson is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literary Translation Fellowship. Her translations include Nobel laureate J. M. G. Le Clézio’s Onitsha, Muriel Barbery’s The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and Hélène Grémillon’s The Confidant. To learn more, visit alison-anderson.com.Robert Petkoff is an award-winning actor of stage, film, and television. He is also an accomplished narrator who has more than 100 audiobooks to his credit, and has received Audie and Earphones awards for his narration. He lives in New York City with his wife. Natalie Moore has appeared in numerous national television and radio commercials, as well as narrated several audiobooks. Natalie has performed at the Guthrie Theater, A.R.T, La Jolla Playhouse, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Theatre De La Jeune Lune, Huntington Theatre and Santa Fe Stage. She is a graduate of Boston University’s School for the Arts.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim on November 04, 2023

Wow, if you want a story of secrets, lies, treachery and betrayal this is the book for you. Everyone lies their way through the plot of this psychological thriller. Yet, while it is a complex plot, it’s written in a style that is easy to follow – you won’t get lost in it. The setting is Paris in 197......more


Quotes

"Hélène Grémillon takes us to the heart of a family secret. We witness undeclared love, hidden hatreds, and revenge with terrible consequences. She writes of two periods in time in two voices. And we are twice as caught up in this book which truly touches our hearts." — ELLE (France)

"The reader is literally riveted to this story, both thriller and historical account. The text has accents of maturity, a stunning mastery of narration, a sense of suspense worthy of a top-notch film. A gripping first novel."  — Le Figaro Litteraire

"Hélène Grémillon: remember this name! Scrupulously written, with fine and harmonious phrasing that renders the heroines' voices perfectly." — Le Point

"Hélène Grémillon's talent bursts forth in this first novel, as much for the style as the historical details and the suspense that persists up to the very last paragraph. As for the main characters... they are all complex, unpredictable and above all charismatic." — Le Nouvel Observateur