{"product_id":"9781472292100-the-wide-world","title":"The Wide World","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn epic novel of family fortune, twisted secrets and love - the first volume in THE GLORIOUS YEARS series\u003cbr\u003eFrom \u003cb\u003eBeirut in 1948, to Saigon and Paris\u003c\/b\u003e, this is the story of \u003cb\u003ethe Pelletier family, rich with corruption, death, blackmail - and murder. \u003c\/b\u003e The first volume of \u003cb\u003eTHE GLORIOUS YEARS series\u003c\/b\u003e, translated by Frank Wynne\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eONE OF \u003ci\u003eTHE TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e' FAVOURITE NOVELS OF 2023\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003ci\u003eThe Wide World\u003c\/i\u003e is one of his best .  Compellingly plotted, stuffed with great characters, thought-provokingly situated in history - honestly, what else do you want from a novel?' \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Literature with conviction; a furious talent'  \u003ci\u003eL'Obs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first volume of \u003cb\u003eTHE GLORIOUS YEARS series\u003c\/b\u003e, translated by Frank Wynne\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeirut, 1948. The Pelletier family returns. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e'Over the years, the annual Pelletier family pilgrimage down the avenue des Français\u003cbr\u003ehad known many variations, but never before had it taken on the air of a funeral cortège.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Pelletiers are a hugely prominent French family living in Beirut. Louis Pelletier has spent years building his soap business, dominating the manufacturing market. Now, he wants to pass on the leadership, but choosing which son to takeover from him is proving challenging.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJean, the eldest, has no such acumen for managing the enterprise and seems a hopeless and weak option. His wife, though, has superior ambitions, and eager to flee the familial bonds for other reasons, Jean agrees to an escape to France.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEtienne Pelletier, younger and a gentle soul, is trained in accounts, and leaves home for Saigon to find love. There, he uncovers a well-established scheme to channel smuggled goods and cash to the Viet Minh. It is dangerous evidence that presents a real threat not only to officials in high places, but to his own life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrançois, the middle Pelletier brother, persuades his father to let him travel to Paris, where he becomes a journalist. His career flies when he reports on the brutal murder of an actress, and realises a serial killer is on the loose, one who may be closer than anyone realises.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'You have the ingredients Balzac would have cooked with. And it is exactly those great 19th century novels that Lemaitre will remind you of' \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Pierre Lemaitre skilfully captivates and stuns the reader' \u003ci\u003eLe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e Figaro\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40877828309089,"sku":"9781472292100","price":20.54,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_27493678.jpg?v=1721812588","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781472292100-the-wide-world","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}