Sagan, Paris 1954

Commissioned by Françoise Sagan's son this is a story about a ground-breaking novelist in 1950's France.

From the bestselling author of The Postcard and How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are, this unique book charts Françoise's Sagan journey to publication for her legendary novel, Bonjour Tristesse.

'Fascinating' Stylist

Before Françoise Sagan the literary icon, there was Françoise Quoirez, an eighteen-year-old Parisian girl, who wrote a novel and needed a publisher for it. This intimate narrative details the months in 1954 leading up to the publication of the legendary Bonjour Tristesse.

We encounter Françoise, her family and friends close up, in a post-war world that is changing radically; and Mlle Quoirez, in her new guise of Françoise Sagan, will be at the heart of that social change.

Sagan was always focused on her writing, though at times the fame of her books was to be eclipsed by her wild-child reputation. Yet, as Anne Berest herself testifies, Sagan's fearless approach to life lived on her own terms remains an inspiration even now.

'Bold and accomplished' Livres Hebdo 
 'A unique and inspiring book, recommended for readers attracted to French novels and novelists, literary memoir, and for anyone who may simply want to see a good example of superlative writing' Portland Book Review 
 'A fascinating account of Françoise Sagan's youth' Stylist 
 'A clearly carefully researched account that does offer the salient facts, in more engaging and memorable ways than a straightforward factual account likely could' The Complete Review 
 'Berest portrays Sagan as the literary Brigitte Bardot, an author who introduced a generation of women to eroticism and empowered them to take control of their bodies without fearing punishment from God or man' The Times 
 'A portrait of French society in the 1950s, a delightful escapade, a hymn to friendship, a token of pure generosity' Le journal du dimanche

Préface
Advanced reader copies available
National print and online campaign
Social media campaign
Promotion through www.gallicbooks.com

Auteur

Anne Berest is the bestselling author of The Postcard (Europa Editions, 2023) and How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are (Doubleday, 2014). She also writes for television, cinema and theatre. She was working on her third novel when Françoise Sagan's son, Denis Westhoff, asked her to write a book to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the publication of Bonjour Tristesse. 

Texte du rabat

Commissioned by Françoise Sagan’s son this is a story about a ground-breaking novelist in 1950's France.

Résumé
"Whisky, gambling and Ferraris are better than housework." Francoise Sagan