The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Interesting Facts

• The book tells the story of life in a prestigious Parisian building where the lives of two main characters intersect: the concierge Renée and the twelve-year-old girl Paloma.
• Renée Michel, one of the main characters, hides her intellect and love for art to conform to the stereotypes of concierges.
• Paloma Josse, the other main character, plans to end her life on her thirteenth birthday, but her outlook on life changes thanks to her friendship with Renée and the new tenant, Mr. Ozu.
• The book explores themes of class differences, intellectual elitism, and the search for life's meaning.
• The novel received numerous awards and was translated into several languages, becoming an international bestseller.
• The story was adapted into the film «Le Hérisson» (The Hedgehog) in 2009, which also received critical acclaim.