The new novel from the Man Booker-shortlisted author of The Sisters Brothers
'DeWitt is in possession of a fresh, lively voice that surprises at every turn' Kate Atkinson, author of Transcription
'My favourite book of his yet ... Dizzyingly good ... A triumph from a writer truly in the zone' Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette
'French Exit made me so happy ... Brilliant, addictive, funny and wise' Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less
Frances Price - tart widow, possessive mother and Upper East Side force of nature - is in dire straits, beset by scandal. Her adult son Malcolm is no help, mired in a permanent state of arrested development. And then there's their cat, Small Frank, who Frances believes houses the spirit of her late husband, an infamously immoral lawyer whose gruesome tabloid death rendered them social outcasts.
To put their troubles behind them, the trio cut their losses and head for the exit. Their beloved Paris becomes the backdrop for a giddy drive to self-destruction, helped along by a cast of singularly curious characters: a bashful private investigator, an aimless psychic and Mme. Reynard, friendly American expat and aggressive houseguest.
Brimming with pathos, warmth and wit,
French Exit is a one-of-a-kind tragedy of manners, a riotous send-up of high society and a moving story of mothers and sons.
Frances Price - tart widow, possessive mother and Upper East Side force of nature - is in dire straits, beset by scandal. Her adult son Malcolm is no help, mired in a permanent state of arrested development. And then there's their cat, who Frances believes houses the spirit of her late husband, an infamously immoral world-class cad whose gruesome tabloid death rendered Frances and Malcolm social outcasts.
The curious trio head for the exit, escape pariahdom and land in their beloved Paris - a backdrop for self-destruction and economic ruin, and peopled by a number of singular characters: a bashful private investigator, an aimless psychic and Mme. Reynard, aggressive houseguest and dementedly friendly American expat.
Brimming with pathos and wit, French Exit is a one-of-a-kind tragedy of manners, a riotous send-up of high society and a moving story of mothers and sons.
If you like Paris, cats, dark humour and satire this is the book for you . With a unique cast of characters and an unusual relationships the book is both witty and warm