EYE OF THE PARTRIDGE

Christian Astolfi

(le bruit du monde, 240 pages, 2024)

Rose is an orphan. She became a mother at the age of sixteen. One day, her husband decided they should leave their native Corsica to go to Toulon in the South of France where he thought they would get a better life.

One morning in 1957, Rose met Farida, who had recently moved into the shanty town nearby. The two women get to know each other and end up forming a friendship that will change the course of their lives and enable them to take stock of the world around them.

While the scars of the World War are still fresh, fighting is now raging in Algeria.

Together, the two friends find the resources they need to overcome the rules they have been imposed by their social class and their status as women. Despite the strength of their convictions, one difference threatens to separate them: Rose is French, Farida is not.

At the heart of the story is Rose's journey of emancipation. By learning to read and write, she finds her voice and becomes the mistress of her own destiny, freeing herself from the constraints imposed by society and its circumstances.

This novel is a captivating exploration of the female condition, inviting readers to reflect on the lasting impact of our choices, our relationships and our quest for justice and freedom.

By giving voice to characters who are often marginalized, the author weaves a powerful story that resonates today.

Christian Astolfi was born in Toulon in 1958 and now lives in Marseille. L’Oeil de la perdrix is his 4th novel.