HEART

Thibault de montaigu

( Editeur Albin michel, 336 pages, 2024)

Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française 2024

Longlisted for Prix Goncourt 2024, Prix Goncourt des Lycéens 2024, Prix Renaudot 2024, Prix Jean Giono 2024

 *** This is unquestionably one of the best novels of the Rentrée***

Le Figaro Magazine

Following in the footsteps of one of his ancestors, Louis Tassin de Montaigu, who died in 1914, the writer paints the portrait of a family haunted by the past.

Emmanuel de Montaigu, a high-spirited playboy, is now a penniless blind old man whose health is declining by the day. From his retirement home, he commissions his eldest son Thibault, a writer by trade, to write about his ancestor Louis who was Emmanuel's grandfather. A Hussar captain in the First World War, he was responsible for a heroic and pointless charge that cost him his life.

At first, Thibault is reluctant to tackle this task but his race against time to uncover the past turns into a deeply moving investigation involving Proustian characters, war widows, flamboyant lovers, neglected wives, and a family secret.

Thibault de Montaigu thinks he's writing about his great-grandfather, the family hero, but soon realizes that the story reveals the true personality of his own father and highlights their sincere yet complex relationship.

A magnificent and unforgettable tale of filial love, Heart shows not only the story of a lineage haunted by glory and honor but also what remains of the love and courage hidden in the hearts of men.

Thibault de Montaigu has published several books of fiction and non-fiction alike. He was awarded the Prix de Flore 2020 for La Grâce.