Les Gens de la nuit

by Michel Déon

Une absence pèse un poids beaucoup plus intolérable qu'une présence. Contre une absence on ne peut pas se battre. Elle est un mal qui ronge jusqu'au jour où, dans l'éclair d'une rencontre, le voile se déchire : «Ce n'était que cela...», se dit Jean Dumont, mais pour se libérer il a dû plonger dans la nuit de Paris des années 50. En vivant la nuit - en vivant aussi la nuit - il a lutté contre ce monstre caché au fond du labyrinthe : le temps dévorant.
Sur son chemin, il a rencontré des êtres qui lui ont tenu la main un instant. Il n'était pas aussi seul dans la vie qu'il l'aurait cru, et Paris est une ville grosse de mystères, de tendresses inattendues et de violences soudaines. Paris est une ville infiniment poétique où les femmes ont reçu le don de guérir les hommes de leurs obsessions.

224 pages, Pocket Book

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Michel Déon was a French novelist and playwright. He adopted the nom de plume Michel Déon, and made it his official name in octobre 1965. He has published over 50 works and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Prix Interallié for his 1970 novel, Les Poneys sauvages (The Wild Ponies). Déon's 1973 novel Un taxi mauve received the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française. His novels have been translated into numerous languages.

In 1978, Déon was elected to the Académie française. Déon is an affiliate member of the Portuguese Academy of Science and Letters. He is a doctor honoris causa at the universities of Athens and Ireland. He is also an honorary citizen of Nice, Aix-en-Provence, and Antibes. His works have been translated into many languages.

Déon and his wife Chantal raised their two children, Alice and Alexandre, on the small Greek island of Spetsai. When the children reached school age in 1968, France was in a state of upheaval. The Déon family settled in Ireland. For over forty years, Déon and his family have made Ireland their home, raising Chantal's fifty horses.

Reviews

[PATRICE PRIVAT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reading . The revelation of a really great author.

[Ian Scot · Rating 2 out of 5]

🚨🚨Boring! Boring! Boring alert🚨🚨 200 pages of watching some bored trust fund kid mope around Paris every night with no character development at all, ya no thanks. News flash, buddy: that sucks

[Mayangiras · Rating 4 out of 5]

the main character, Jean Dumont, has insomnia because of broken heart, he then walks every night in Paris to escape from his obsession and depression. in this nocturne vagabond, he meets people whose secret and liaison take him to a complicated world. he become involuntarily the important role that will change the circle and himself.

it's great being told. reading every words is like watching a psychological movie. you need to think the meaning of the story but it's very simple...you may like it..:D
anyway, this novel is for my french final exam, i recommend you to read it in its original language...