Sylvie Germain Books

"Sylvie Germain's The Medusa Child beautifully translated from the French by Liz Nash, tells a heartbreaking and violent story about sin and redemption in fantastical language; a myth from la France profonde." Books of the Year in The Independent on Sunday 'Germain's language is redolent with decay, rich with religious torment and ecstasy, and filled with the decadence so loved by this publisher.' Time Out 'The Medusa Child is her most accessible novel, and my favourite. A coherent pattern of metaphor depicts an enchanted country childhood. Lucie explores the marshes around her home and studies the stars. But when she is given a room of her own, an ogre starts to pay her nocturnal visits. Helpless and alone, Lucie decides to fight back by turning herself into a monster. This is a superb and compassionate study of damage and resistance.' Michele Roberts in Mslexia

Theodore Lebon's life is shattered when he receives his wife's headless body after a tragic riding accident. Sylvie Germain immerses readers in a surreal realm where reality blurs, allowing the unexpected, absurd, and miraculous to coexist. Her richly imaginative storytelling invites exploration of themes such as loss and the uncanny, revealing a world where certainties fade and the grotesque becomes part of the human experience.

Sylvie Germain traces a century in the life of the Peniel family and the cycle of birth and death, triumph and loss, madness and passion―from the Franco-Prussian War to World War II―that envelops and buffets their lives. Blending the historical with the supernatural, the comic with the grotesque, the lyrical with the brutal, Sylvie Germain tells the story of humanity's strivings and vanity, of the profound injustices that govern our relations, and of the fundamental strength that allows us ultimately to triumph over carnage and degradation.

Set against the backdrop of post-communist Prague, the story follows Ludvik, a man returning to a homeland marked by spiritual emptiness after years of exile. His return is driven by personal despair following a rejection from a woman, leading him to seek solace in a place that offers little comfort. Amidst the bleakness, the narrative explores themes of heartbreak and the possibility of redemption through unexpected moments of grace. Sylvie Germain's evocative writing guides readers through this journey of despair and potential enlightenment.

"An intricate, finely crafted and polished tale, The Weeping Woman brings magic-realism to the dimly lit streets of Prague. Through the squares and alleys a woman walks, the embodiment of human pity, sorrow, death. Everyone she passes is touched by her, and Germain skilfully creates an intense mood and feel in her attempt to produce a spiritual map of Prague."The ObserverThe figure of this bereft woman develops into a memorable symbol: her sudden appearances - on a bridge, in a square, in a room - haunt the book like history, moved to tears."Robert Winder in The Independent"a haunting classic" Madeleine Kingsley in She Magazine

Exploring the dynamics of a middle-class family grappling with loss, the narrative centers on Charlam, the controlling grandfather, and his daughter-in-law, Sabine, who resists his dominance after the tragic death of her husband, Georges. The three sons navigate their grief independently, while Marie rebels against Charlam's authority due to her own trauma. The story also delves into hidden emotions and complex relationships, including the aunt's secret passion and Sabine's connection with Mr. Loyalty, revealing a rich tapestry of unspoken desires and conflicts.

Exploring themes of identity and the Holocaust, the novel follows Magnus as he seeks to understand his complex past. His journey reveals a truth that contrasts sharply with the heroic narrative he grew up believing, drawing parallels to an Edward Munch painting. Sylvie Germain weaves imagination and intuition throughout the story, transforming history into a powerful blend of myth and fable, ultimately delving into the intricacies of human existence.