The Reinvention of Love
2013 Longlist

The Reinvention of Love

ABOUT
THE BOOK

When Charles Sainte-Beuve, an ambitious French journalist, meets Victor Hugo, a young writer on the verge of fame, he finds himself in a world of great passions, a world in which words can become swords. But, to Charles’ surprise, he is more attracted to Victor’s long-suffering wife, Adèle. When the two lovers create a scandale in Paris, Victor exacts his price for betrayal.

Set during the tumultuous reign of Napoleon III, and sweeping from France to the Channel Islands, to Halifax and back, The Reinvention of Love draws a rich portrait of the old city, where duels are fought in its parks and cholera-ridden bodies float in the Seine. Along its narrow, crime-filled streets, noble families and artists-Chopin, George Sand, Alexandre Dumas-mix with ordinary citizens, still restless with ideas of revolution. And towering over all is the enormous talent of Victor Hugo, who is quickly becoming the voice of France to the world.

The Reinvention of Love turns historical fact into an atmospheric, delicately wrought story of inescapable family ties and forbidden love.

 

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Helen
Humphreys

Helen Humphreys is the author of four books of poetry, six novels, and two works of creative non-fiction. Her novel, Wild Dogs won the Lambda Prize for fiction, has been optioned for film, and was produced as a stage play. Coventry was a national bestseller and was shortlisted for the Trillium Book Award and the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction. It was also a New York Times Editors’ Choice. The Reinvention of Love was longlisted for the Dublin Impac Literary Award and shortlisted for the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction.

The Evening Chorus is her latest novel. The recipient of the Harbourfront Festival Prize for literary excellence, Humphreys lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Helen Humphreys is the author of four books of poetry, six novels, and two works of creative non-fiction. Her novel, Wild Dogs won the Lambda Prize for fiction, has been optioned for film, and was produced as a stage play. Coventry was a national bestseller and was shortlisted for the Trillium Book Award and the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction. It was also a New York Times Editors’ Choice. The Reinvention of Love was longlisted for the Dublin Impac Literary Award and shortlisted for the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction.

The Evening Chorus is her latest novel. The recipient of the Harbourfront Festival Prize for literary excellence, Humphreys lives in Kingston, Ontario.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
06/09/2011
Publisher
HarperCollins

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