‘A master storyteller’ Huffington Post
‘A delightful literary soufflé‘ Library Journal
From the bestselling author of The Red Notebook

While wandering through a Paris auction house, avid collector Pierre-Francois Chaumont is stunned to discover the eighteenth-century portrait of an unknown man who looks just like him.

Much to his delight, Chaumont’s bid for the work is successful, but back at home his jaded wife and circle of friends are unable to see the resemblance. Chaumont remains convinced of it, and as he researches into the painting’s history, he is presented with the opportunity to abandon his tedious existence and walk into a brand new life…

Translated by Jane Aitken and Emily Boyce.

Antoine Laurain was born in Paris and lives there still. He is a journalist, antiques collector and award-winning author of ten novels, including The Red Notebook and The President’s Hat. His books have been translated into 25 languages and sold more than 200,000 copies in English.

Reviews

A delightful literary soufflé that fans of his other charming books will savor

Library Journal

Effortlessly eloquent, quietly hilarious and consistently self-aware, Antoine Laurain’s debut novel is a delightful read crammed with all kinds of decadent goodness… With elegance and good taste oozing from every page, [this is] a book you won’t be able to put down

Reader's Digest