The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2006)

What a charming work! I’m yet to read a better book with such a carefully-worded satire for anyone nursing high-handed notions of class and the assumed privileges of wealth.

The story of The Elegance of the Hedgehog revolves around two seemingly different individuals trying to hide a very similar secret—their attempt to suppress their knowledge and opinions, so they can fly under the radar of the pretentious bourgeois society around them, while trying to stay true to who they are.

Renee is the concierge of number 7, Rue de Grenelle (in the Left Bank of Paris) and Paloma is the youngest daughter of a wealthy family who live in the building. Both Renee and Paloma live false lives—they pretend to be ignorant, play to the stereotypes that others try to attribute to them and secretly do what they can to satisfy their intellectual thirst.

In secret, you see their true colours: Renee’s passion for the arts and culture, and her keen observations of those who interact and pass her door are both hilarious and revealing. Paloma’s ‘profound thoughts’ are equally witty and oozes irony, but she has more sinister plans—to commit suicide and to set fire to the building. The beauty is that they are unaware of the potential they have for a truly meaningful friendship. 

In an unexpected twist, death disrupts everything. The passing away of Monsieur Arthens, a famous restaurant critic, opens the doors of this apartment building to a whole new aspect. The arrival of the intriguing Monsieur Ozu puts a spanner in the works for both Renee and Paloma, but it also leads the way to a better appreciation of their shared tastes, among each other.

© Elena Torre, Viareggio, Italia on Flickr

You may feel somewhat overwhelmed by the continuous call on the mind to concentrate on the philosophical wanderings of both Renee and Paloma—in turns ironic, wistful and metaphorical, it is philosophy applied to everyday life. Everything seems to be dissected under a philosophical microscope, with characters and situations analysed and deconstructed to reveal the underlying hypocrisy.

It is a beautifully written novel with a well-crafted plot. It was first written in French and was translated to English by Alison Anderson. Many of the cultural references can be traced to Barbery herself (check out her fan site), who is a Professor of Philosophy. It’s written with a depth of feeling and sincerity that touches the heart.

The connection to the hedgehog? I’ll leave you to find out.

Here’s the trailer from the French feature film The Hedgehog (2009), directed by Mona Achache and based on the novel: