Shortlisted for the Prix Jean Giono, the temples and teahouses of Kyoto are the scene of a Frenchwoman’s emotional awakening in the stunning new novel by international bestseller Muriel Barbery.

‘Interlacing the glories of Japan with the desolation of grief, Muriel Barbery sows beauty on every page’ Elle

'An ode to Japan ... a magnificent, resonant, finely crafted novel' Le Monde

Rose has turned 40, but has barely begun to live. When the Japanese father she never knew dies and she finds herself an orphan, she leaves France for Kyoto to hear the reading of his will.

In the days before Haru’s last wishes are revealed, his former assistant, Paul, takes Rose on a tour of the temples, gardens and eating places of this unfamiliar city. Initially a reluctant tourist and awkward guest in her late father’s home, Rose gradually comes to discover Haru’s legacy through the itinerary he set for her, finding gifts greater than she had ever imagined.

This stunning novel from international bestseller Muriel Barbery is a mesmerizing story of second chances, of beauty born out of grief and roses grown from ashes.

'An ode to Japan ... a magnificent, resonant, finely crafted novel' Le Monde
'Muriel Barbery sows beauty on every page' Elle
'A small miracle' Lire
'A moving, accomplished novel ? thoughtful, ethereal and inspired' L'Obs
Praise for The Elegance of the Hedgehog
'Resistance is futile ? you might as well buy it before someone recommends it for your book group. Its charm will make you say yes' The Guardian
'Clever, informative and moving ? an admirable novel' The Observer
'Breathtakingly singular ? totally French yet completely universal' Good Housekeeping
'A fascinating maze of emotional release' Foreword Reviews
'A lyrical and opaque story' Publishers Weekly
'Rich with atmosphere and character and drawing on themes of grief and second chances, this is a delicate delight' Living Magazine