'The Wide World 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?' The
Times 'Literature with conviction a furious talent' L'Obs The first volume of THE GLORIOUS
YEARS series translated by Frank Wynne Beirut 1948. The Pelletier family returns... 'Over the
years the annual Pelletier family pilgrimage down the avenue des Françaishad known many
variations but never before had it taken on the air of a funeral cortège...' The 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. Jean 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. Etienne 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. François 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. 'You have the ingredients Balzac
would have cooked with. And it is exactly those great 19th century novels that Lemaitre will
remind you of' Sunday Times 'Pierre Lemaitre skilfully captivates and stuns the reader' Le
Figaro
