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The Girl at the Lion d'Or

Description:

"Beautifully written and--extraordinarily moving."--The Sunday Times (London)

From the author of the international bestseller
Birdsong, comes a haunting historical novel of passion, loss, and courage set in France between the two world wars. This Vintage Original edition marks its first appearance in the United States.

On a rainy night in the 1930s, Anne Louvet appears at the run-down Hotel du Lion d'Or in the village of Janvilliers.  She is seeking a job and a new life, one far removed from the awful injustices of her past. As Anne embarks on a torrential love affair with a married veteran of the Great War,
The Girl at the Lion d'Or fashions an unbreakable spell of narrative and atmosphere that evokes French masters from Flaubert to Renoir.      

"This moving and profound novel is perfectly constructed, and admirable in its configurations of place and period."--
The Times (London)

"I would urge those who appreciated--
The French Lieutenant's Woman to try this one--. They may well think it superior."--Sunday Telegraph (London)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At the outset of Sebastian Faulks's The Girl at the Lion d'Or, lovely, abandoned Anne Louvet seems almost willing to retreat into the anonymous routines of her waitressing duties--until she meets Charles Hartmann. He, trapped in a loveless marriage and feeling increasingly adrift more than a decade after serving in the Great War, is as enchanted by Anne's vulnerability as she is by his tender, almost paternal attentions. Their affair, and the cruel paradox of seeking a clandestine sufficiency, allow Faulks to pit the demands of desire against the necessities of duty, a task he pursues with tireless charm.

When Anne first arrives at the Hotel du Lion d'Or in the French town of Janvilliers, it is with the dual hope of escaping an unhappy past and discovering some degree of happiness. Undeniably beautiful and just bold enough to prod her own fate, she sees in the wealthy and restless Hartmann a soul that might redeem her own. "How was it possible, she wondered, to be awed by someone and yet to feel protective towards him too?" For his part, Hartmann senses in her the woman who, finally, might satisfy his need to offer refuge.

The secret of Anne's past, which she fears will drive Hartmann from her, conspires along with his gnawing uncertainty about her ultimate contentment to place their romance at a crossroads. Faulks, with deft restraint, never allows matters to lapse into the maudlin. Assessing the apparent inappropriateness of his love for Anne, Hartmann reflects that "there was something wrong ... in a society that could think of such generous feelings as unacceptable." Faulks's own generosity illuminates each page. --Ben Guterson

Review

Faulks ... brings his characters to life with grace and vigor. -- The New York Times Book Review, Maggie Galehouse

Review:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but had potential to be wonderful

C.S. · March 24, 2011

I enjoyed reading the book which was beautifully written and typical Faulks. A gentle insight into France at the time and the social/moral constraints affecting the lives of both the privileged and the working class.The relationship between the main characters, Anne and Hartmann, developed but I was not swept up and carried as expected. The latter half of the story slowed and became too introspective and predictable.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Sebastian Faulks

R. · February 19, 2013

This is my fifth Sebastian Faulks book (out of about 10 novels) and it rates right up there with three of the others: "Birdsong" (4 stars); "On Green Dolphin Street" (4-1/2 stars); and "Engleby" (4 stars). The only one I haven't liked so far is "A Week in December," which came in as a confusing mess - 3 stars (pluses) and 2 minuses. Faulks has written a triology of novels about early 20th century France - "The Girl at the Lion d'Or," "Birdsong," and "Charlotte Gray." I'm looking forward to reading the latter."The Girl..." is unquestionably a love story, but what makes it unique is that sex in the developing relationship takes a backseat to other emotional aspects of the relationship. Well, maybe "back seat" is an exaggeration, since there is definitely fulfilled attraction, but the author beautifully describes the changing psychological developments in the minds of both parties. This is one of the novels in which you never know exactly what's going to happen. Will they have sex by page 93? Will the relationship end up badly? What pitfalls lie ahead? Well, since the man (Charles) is married, that obvious difficulty gives the author a lot of leeway in defining not only the relationship between the two major players (Charles and Anne), but also the relationship of each to the wife (Christine). The feelings of the two protagonists toward each other are in some ways precise and in others murky, which sounds much more realistic than romance novels in which the two parties fall completely in love and live happily ever after.The minor characters are also well developed - not just described, but their motives and predilections displayed in all their complexity. The tribulations of pre-WW II France and its rickety government are also presented.This is a delicious read. I looked forward to each page, not knowing exactly what to expect. The reason I gave it 4-1/2 rather than 5 stars is that I thought the ending was too abrupt and not as nuanced as seemed called for considering the rest of the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Girl from the Lion d'Or

J.H. · September 6, 2012

An excellent story of forbidden love in a country where such affairs are a regular feature. The Girl from Lion d'Or shows a rare mixture vulnerability, passion and strong determination. Another Faulks book that makes you think long after you have read the final line.

3.0 out of 5 stars not a bad read if you are a Francophile

B.F. · November 18, 2015

This book isn't as strong as some of his others....there is no real ending so it's kind of unsatisfying. Still, not a bad read if you are a Francophile.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story

l. · July 26, 2013

I really enjoyed this book. Once again a good book for a book club as there were so many points of interest open for discussion. Thought s typical Sebastian Faulks book.Would recommend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good read

D.R.H. · May 23, 2020

This is a wonderful book and not simple. Faullks is a great writer; I'm glad for Garrison K. that I find him.

2.0 out of 5 stars Ponderous & unsettling

F.E.D.S. · September 4, 2017

I loved Birdsong but got to a point early on where I just couldn't go forward w/this book. His prose has moments of utter brilliance but I really disliked the storytelling. I deleted it from my device.

3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars

r.s. · March 4, 2015

A lovely story - entertaining and easy read.

A good read if

M.M. · April 4, 2014

Having read Birdsong and Charlotte Grey, this book filled in the time between the wars with interesting threads of connection between the two other books. Like many series each book can stand alone as an excellent read but when you read and the familiar thread is woven through all three it is special.

Ein Genie

D.E. · July 15, 2013

Sebastian Faulks ist ein Genie, man soll die andere zwei Bücher in diese Trilogie lesen, ein Einblick in der Kriegswelt

a romantic classic

l.b. · May 6, 2014

Excellent read with an unpredictable ending..I read it slowly on holidays over 3 full days. I highly recommend this author.

romantic, with a sense of impending disaster

m. · September 4, 2016

This is a romantic story, which set against the momentum events in France leading up to the second world war, shows that everyone's life has its own dramas - its own hopes, regrets and disappointments. The plot is a simple one - a love affair between a married older man, and a young servant girl with a troubled past, but it is the characterisation and the strange feel of impermanence and impending disaster which makes the book so powerful.Whilst not one of Faulk's very best books still well worth reading

Four Stars

T.K. · September 19, 2016

good

The Girl at the Lion d'Or

Product ID: U0375704531
Condition: New

3.6

AED7069

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

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Imported From: United States

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The Girl at the Lion d'Or

Product ID: U0375704531
Condition: New

3.6

Type: Paperback

AED7069

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

"Beautifully written and--extraordinarily moving."--The Sunday Times (London)

From the author of the international bestseller
Birdsong, comes a haunting historical novel of passion, loss, and courage set in France between the two world wars. This Vintage Original edition marks its first appearance in the United States.

On a rainy night in the 1930s, Anne Louvet appears at the run-down Hotel du Lion d'Or in the village of Janvilliers.  She is seeking a job and a new life, one far removed from the awful injustices of her past. As Anne embarks on a torrential love affair with a married veteran of the Great War,
The Girl at the Lion d'Or fashions an unbreakable spell of narrative and atmosphere that evokes French masters from Flaubert to Renoir.      

"This moving and profound novel is perfectly constructed, and admirable in its configurations of place and period."--
The Times (London)

"I would urge those who appreciated--
The French Lieutenant's Woman to try this one--. They may well think it superior."--Sunday Telegraph (London)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At the outset of Sebastian Faulks's The Girl at the Lion d'Or, lovely, abandoned Anne Louvet seems almost willing to retreat into the anonymous routines of her waitressing duties--until she meets Charles Hartmann. He, trapped in a loveless marriage and feeling increasingly adrift more than a decade after serving in the Great War, is as enchanted by Anne's vulnerability as she is by his tender, almost paternal attentions. Their affair, and the cruel paradox of seeking a clandestine sufficiency, allow Faulks to pit the demands of desire against the necessities of duty, a task he pursues with tireless charm.

When Anne first arrives at the Hotel du Lion d'Or in the French town of Janvilliers, it is with the dual hope of escaping an unhappy past and discovering some degree of happiness. Undeniably beautiful and just bold enough to prod her own fate, she sees in the wealthy and restless Hartmann a soul that might redeem her own. "How was it possible, she wondered, to be awed by someone and yet to feel protective towards him too?" For his part, Hartmann senses in her the woman who, finally, might satisfy his need to offer refuge.

The secret of Anne's past, which she fears will drive Hartmann from her, conspires along with his gnawing uncertainty about her ultimate contentment to place their romance at a crossroads. Faulks, with deft restraint, never allows matters to lapse into the maudlin. Assessing the apparent inappropriateness of his love for Anne, Hartmann reflects that "there was something wrong ... in a society that could think of such generous feelings as unacceptable." Faulks's own generosity illuminates each page. --Ben Guterson

Review

Faulks ... brings his characters to life with grace and vigor. -- The New York Times Book Review, Maggie Galehouse

Review:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but had potential to be wonderful

C.S. · March 24, 2011

I enjoyed reading the book which was beautifully written and typical Faulks. A gentle insight into France at the time and the social/moral constraints affecting the lives of both the privileged and the working class.The relationship between the main characters, Anne and Hartmann, developed but I was not swept up and carried as expected. The latter half of the story slowed and became too introspective and predictable.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Sebastian Faulks

R. · February 19, 2013

This is my fifth Sebastian Faulks book (out of about 10 novels) and it rates right up there with three of the others: "Birdsong" (4 stars); "On Green Dolphin Street" (4-1/2 stars); and "Engleby" (4 stars). The only one I haven't liked so far is "A Week in December," which came in as a confusing mess - 3 stars (pluses) and 2 minuses. Faulks has written a triology of novels about early 20th century France - "The Girl at the Lion d'Or," "Birdsong," and "Charlotte Gray." I'm looking forward to reading the latter."The Girl..." is unquestionably a love story, but what makes it unique is that sex in the developing relationship takes a backseat to other emotional aspects of the relationship. Well, maybe "back seat" is an exaggeration, since there is definitely fulfilled attraction, but the author beautifully describes the changing psychological developments in the minds of both parties. This is one of the novels in which you never know exactly what's going to happen. Will they have sex by page 93? Will the relationship end up badly? What pitfalls lie ahead? Well, since the man (Charles) is married, that obvious difficulty gives the author a lot of leeway in defining not only the relationship between the two major players (Charles and Anne), but also the relationship of each to the wife (Christine). The feelings of the two protagonists toward each other are in some ways precise and in others murky, which sounds much more realistic than romance novels in which the two parties fall completely in love and live happily ever after.The minor characters are also well developed - not just described, but their motives and predilections displayed in all their complexity. The tribulations of pre-WW II France and its rickety government are also presented.This is a delicious read. I looked forward to each page, not knowing exactly what to expect. The reason I gave it 4-1/2 rather than 5 stars is that I thought the ending was too abrupt and not as nuanced as seemed called for considering the rest of the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Girl from the Lion d'Or

J.H. · September 6, 2012

An excellent story of forbidden love in a country where such affairs are a regular feature. The Girl from Lion d'Or shows a rare mixture vulnerability, passion and strong determination. Another Faulks book that makes you think long after you have read the final line.

3.0 out of 5 stars not a bad read if you are a Francophile

B.F. · November 18, 2015

This book isn't as strong as some of his others....there is no real ending so it's kind of unsatisfying. Still, not a bad read if you are a Francophile.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story

l. · July 26, 2013

I really enjoyed this book. Once again a good book for a book club as there were so many points of interest open for discussion. Thought s typical Sebastian Faulks book.Would recommend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good read

D.R.H. · May 23, 2020

This is a wonderful book and not simple. Faullks is a great writer; I'm glad for Garrison K. that I find him.

2.0 out of 5 stars Ponderous & unsettling

F.E.D.S. · September 4, 2017

I loved Birdsong but got to a point early on where I just couldn't go forward w/this book. His prose has moments of utter brilliance but I really disliked the storytelling. I deleted it from my device.

3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars

r.s. · March 4, 2015

A lovely story - entertaining and easy read.

A good read if

M.M. · April 4, 2014

Having read Birdsong and Charlotte Grey, this book filled in the time between the wars with interesting threads of connection between the two other books. Like many series each book can stand alone as an excellent read but when you read and the familiar thread is woven through all three it is special.

Ein Genie

D.E. · July 15, 2013

Sebastian Faulks ist ein Genie, man soll die andere zwei Bücher in diese Trilogie lesen, ein Einblick in der Kriegswelt

a romantic classic

l.b. · May 6, 2014

Excellent read with an unpredictable ending..I read it slowly on holidays over 3 full days. I highly recommend this author.

romantic, with a sense of impending disaster

m. · September 4, 2016

This is a romantic story, which set against the momentum events in France leading up to the second world war, shows that everyone's life has its own dramas - its own hopes, regrets and disappointments. The plot is a simple one - a love affair between a married older man, and a young servant girl with a troubled past, but it is the characterisation and the strange feel of impermanence and impending disaster which makes the book so powerful.Whilst not one of Faulk's very best books still well worth reading

Four Stars

T.K. · September 19, 2016

good

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