The President's Hat

Description

This prize-winning French bestseller is a charming fable about the power of a hat that takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride through French life during the Mitterrand years. Dining alone in an elegant Parisian brasserie, accountant Daniel Mercier can hardly believe his eyes when President François Mitterrand sits down to eat at the table next to him. After the presidential party has gone, Daniel discovers that Mitterrand's black felt hat has been left behind. After a few moments' soul-searching, Daniel decides to keep the hat as a souvenir of an extraordinary evening. It's a perfect fit, and as he leaves the restaurant Daniel begins to feel somehow . . . different. Has Daniel unwittingly discovered the secret of supreme power? For two years the iconic item of headgear plays with the lives of the men and women who wear it, bringing them success that had previously eluded them. Antoine Laurain's brilliantly orchestrated tour captures entertaining portraits of a rich gallery of characters. Shot through with a delicious, wicked sense of humor, The President's Hat is a vivid re-creation of the everyday life of an era. "As entertaining as it is original, this is a story to enjoy like a chocolate with a surprise centre."— Marie France "An enjoyable trip into the heart of the 1980s."— Le Figaro "Impossible to resist"— L'Express Antoine Laurain was born in Paris. He is a writer, collector, and director of several short films. Review: Sehr schönes Buch - Mal ganz was anderes. Interessante Reise, die dieser Hut auf dem Weg zu seinem ursprünglichen Besitzer nimmt. Wäre auch ein schönes Geschenk für Frankreich-Fans, gibt's aber leider nicht in der deutschen Übersetzung. Review: Delightful - This whimsical tale of the magic of an everyday object is both charming and inspiring, and although set in France does not require knowledge of the language or country to be enjoyed . And I very much enjoyed The Presidents Hat and its ensemble cast of realistic characters; it left an impression on me that has lasted after closing the book. The most compelling character, the hat, remains on my mind - I am intimately familiar with the way that a good hat can change the way you feel. Was the hat truly powerful? Or did the real power lie in the hat bringing out a facet of the wearers that already existed, but could not be expressed by their everyday hatless selves? I plan to look for more work by Antoine Laurain.