Cramleigh Saltash Magazine April 2015 April 2015 | Page 34

BOOK REVIEW

“The Elegance of the Hedgehog”

The Perfect Summer
by Muriel Barbery.

Perhaps it isn’t a very encouraging beginning to a review to say that I struggled with this book
at times, especially in the opening chapters. I must confess that I am still not absolutely sure
what it is about. However, as I read on, I became more interested and
engaged in the characters; it is certainly not a plot-led book!
Set in an apartment block in an expensive district of Paris, it
focuses on the lives of the inhabitants from the point of view
of the concierge, Renee. Of course, she only sees snapshots of
their existences but although the author’s lively styleaand
This isn’t a novel, this doesn’t stop her from having very
determined opinion ofmake it seem like one. The book them
anecdotal approach each of them…and she doesn’t like
atdescribes are privileged, rich andone of the hottest onon
all. They the summer of 1911 – narrow-minded. She, record
– other when very few people realised that war was looming,
thea time hand, beneath her carefully manufactured persona
ofbut a period dull-wittedwhen strikes and suffragettes were
the average of unrest concierge (and this is how she
shaking political and social stability.
perceives that her clients view her), is educated in the arts
and in philosophy; in short, she is a great intellectual and
Nicolson concentrates on individuals from all classes
spends a lot of time theorising and contemplating on thewhose
actions during this summer either characterised or changed
meaning of life. She is not alone in this: there are snippets of
what was going on in Britain at the beginning of the
another narrative voiceMany well-known names areof one of the rich
– that of Paloma, the child mentioned
twentieth century.
families in theGeorge V, Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf and and who sees herself
apartment block, who is facetiously intelligent
– Churchill,
asAugustus John are among the manyof the world and who is quick to point out their faults
the intellectual superior of the rest which appear in the
and follies. Paloma has not from theshe will commit suicide before she reaches adolescence,
book. We see them, decided that usual historical perspective,
having set fire to the building as people who have not yet established their fame.
but from a personal view - first.

by Juliet Nicolson

Yes, it is a bit odd!

One of the aspects of the era that is strongly conveyed is the difference between rich

and poor. Conditions empathetic Japanese millionaire, Kakuro, is added to the mix, it gets
Once the charming and in the city slums are described so graphically, the reader can smell,
as odder. I didn’t altogether believe in his relationship with Renee. decadence of the country
evenwell as visualise, what it must have been like. By contrast, the From the moment he
house, set guesses at her “terrible secret”, myriads of servants, is lavishly presented.
meets her hewith its extravagant parties andthat of her supreme intellect and love of the
What invites us to his insuperable gap cerebral the two worlds of – they are soul mates
arts. He strikesher is the apartment and a between friendship developsthe careworn and the
careless.
and his affection for her causes her to blossom in some unexpected and charming ways.
Despite this serious theme, there are also amusing parts finds reason for living – indeed
From this moment in the novel, life seems to change. Palomato theabook: the strict rules
a regarding sea bathing,the meaning of life are brought forward. Is one thethe themes of the
number of theories on for instance, which stipulated the extent of of costume required;
and which indulges in some long philosophical the water via bathing machine. Nicolson
book, the method of conveying the swimmer to polemics, the answer to the question: “What
notes, tellingly, that those Certainly, not afford to hire about machines stood on the
makes us glad we are alive?” who couldone of the themes isbathingclass and categorisation
beach clad in their Sunday best, trussed up
and the belief that one does not have to remainin thick boots, stays andsocietyhats.
in whatever pigeonhole large constructs for
one.
It is fascinating and rather poignant to read about the early lives of many who were to

become famous, interludes and the intensely introspective nature of the often dark, future
Despite the seriousseeing their youthful optimism while knowing what the,main characters,
held for them. You don’t need to There are some history to enjoy this funnier
the narrative is not without humour. be interested infunny incidents, made book. by the way
in which they are observed. In fact, there were moments when I wondered whether the whole
C.A.M.
thing was just a mocking satire...yet it ended hop VgV