{"title":"Philippe Besson","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhilippe Besson\u003c\/em\u003e crafts deeply evocative narratives that explore the complexities of love, identity, and memory. His novels often illuminate intimate relationships with a tender yet unflinching honesty, inviting readers to reflect on desire and the passage of time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSet mostly within the realm of general fiction, Besson’s works blend emotional depth with elegant prose, offering stories that linger in the mind long after the final page. Readers can expect poignant, character-driven tales that explore human connection with subtlety and grace.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"in-the-absence-of-men","title":"In the Absence of Men","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStep into the evocative world of \u003cem\u003eIn the Absence of Men\u003c\/em\u003e by Philippe Besson, a poignant narrative that explores the complexities of youth and desire set against the backdrop of World War I. It is the summer of 1916, and the men of Paris have been called to the front lines, leaving behind a city steeped in an uneasy calm amidst the looming threat of German Zeppelins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt the heart of the story is Vincent, a sixteen-year-old from an affluent family, who navigates the paradoxical serenity of Paris during wartime. Despite the external calm, Vincent finds himself amidst the opulent yet hollow salons and soirées of Parisian society. His life takes a transformative turn when he encounters the enigmatic and charismatic writer, Marcel Proust. This electrifying meeting illuminates Vincent’s innermost desires, pushing him into ever-riskier liaisons with Arthur, a young soldier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs Vincent delves deeper into these relationships, he begins to unearth the many facets of love, longing, and identity. His journey is a delicate dance between innocence and experience, shadowed by the brutal realities of a world at war. Frank Wynne's masterful translation brings Besson’s lyrical prose and the tender intimacies of youth to an English-speaking audience with remarkable finesse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn the Absence of Men\u003c\/em\u003e is more than a mere coming-of-age story; it is a bold exploration of the human spirit's resilience and the unbidden paths that desire can lead us down. With Besson’s crisp and evocative writing, the novel captures the romance, amoral intrigue, and wistful yearning of gilded youth with a strikingly original voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis elegant, pocket-sized edition by VINTAGE celebrates the audacity and ambition of the written word, ensuring that readers are transported to wherever literary innovation may be found. This novel is a testament to the enduring power of love and the unstoppable force of youthful curiosity, set against a vividly depicted historical context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eIn the Absence of Men\u003c\/em\u003e includes admiration from the \u003cem\u003eIndependent\u003c\/em\u003e, which hails it as, \"A short, bold and original novel which beautifully captures the romance and amorality of gilded youth.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692092154092,"sku":"9781784876364","price":21.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781784876364.jpg?v=1725552353"},{"product_id":"lie-with-me","title":"Lie With Me","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLie With Me\u003c\/i\u003e by Philippe Besson is a breathtaking coming-of-age love story set in 1980s France, capturing the heart and soul of youthful passion. This evocative novel begins just outside a hotel in Bordeaux, where Philippe, now a famous writer, encounters a young man who uncannily resembles his first love. This encounter prompts a powerful journey back to Philippe's teenage years, specifically a winter morning in 1984 at a small French high school.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a carefully orchestrated meeting, seventeen-year-old Philippe forms a bond with his classmate Thomas, and what starts as a tentative connection quickly blossoms into a secret, intensely passionate relationship. Their love affair is world-altering, deeply affecting both young men as they navigate the complexities of their emotions and societal expectations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative is dazzlingly brought to life in English by the acclaimed actor and writer Molly Ringwald, who delivers her first-ever translation with graceful precision. Besson's story, rendered through Ringwald's skilful prose, captures the ephemeral beauty of first love with an exquisite intensity that resonates deeply. The novel also poignantly explores the passage of time and the bittersweet nature of memories, making it a truly moving and unforgettable read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLie With Me\u003c\/i\u003e is not just a romance but a profound reflection on identity, longing, and the indelible impact of one's first love. Philippe Besson’s storytelling is both tender and powerful, transporting readers to a time and place where love, though hidden, burns brightly. This is a novel that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned, leaving an indelible mark on your heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692224274668,"sku":"9780241987094","price":20.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241987094.jpg?v=1725554054"},{"product_id":"in-the-absence-of-men-by-philippe-besson-9781529949094","title":"In the Absence of Men","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElegant novellas-in-translation, VINTAGE EDITIONS celebrate the audacity and ambition of the written word, transporting readers to wherever in the world literary innovation may be found.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom the bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eLie With Me\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the summer of 1916 and, with German Zeppelins on the skyline, the men of Paris are off at war. For Vincent, the sixteen-year-old son of a prestigious family, the tranquillity of the city sits at odds with the salons and soirées he attends. But, after an electrifying encounter with the enigmatic writer, Marcel P, draws Vincent's desires out into the light, his ever-riskier liaisons with a young soldier begin to shape Vincent's future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTranslated by Frank Wynne\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A short, bold and original novel which beautifully captures the romance and amorality of gilded youth'\u003c\/em\u003e - Independent\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eElegant novellas-in-translation, VINTAGE EDITIONS celebrate the audacity and ambition of the written word, transporting readers to wherever in the world literary innovation may be found.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gardners Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46531632693484,"sku":"9781529949094","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/19912663482732.jpg?v=1749280726"},{"product_id":"the-summer-boy-by-philippe-besson-9781398556683","title":"The Summer Boy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTell me, do you know why the most beautiful love stories must always end badly?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn a scruffy resort island off the coast of France, six teenagers—five boys and one girl—band together for a final golden season. Their days are drenched in sun and freedom, and their nights simmer with secrets, jealousy, and longing. Philippe is drawn to Nicolas, the quiet new boy who sees him in a way that no one else does. As their bond deepens, part of Nicolas remains unreachable—until a sudden tragedy brings their summer to a brutal end.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Summer Boy \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis a lush and unforgettable tale, capturing the ineffable summers of youth in amber. Celebrated novelist Philippe Besson has shaped his memories into an aching meditation on how one summer night—and one fierce connection—can echo across a lifetime.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47456441499884,"sku":"9781398556683","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781398556683.jpg?v=1774862700"},{"product_id":"the-summer-boy-by-philippe-besson-9781398556058","title":"The Summer Boy","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn an island off the coast of France, six teenagers come together for a summer of desire and discovery until one of them vanishes forever, leaving the rest with an enduring mystery.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTell me, do you know why the most beautiful love stories must always end badly?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the summer of 1985, on a scruffy resort island off the coast of France, six teenagers—five boys and one girl—band together for a final golden season before adulthood. Their days are drenched in sun and freedom, and their nights simmer with secrets, jealousy, and longing. Philippe is drawn to Nicolas, the quiet new boy who sees him in a way that no one else does. As their bond deepens, part of Nicolas remains unreachable—until a sudden tragedy brings their summer to a brutal end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Summer Boy\u003c\/em\u003e is a lush and unforgettable autobiographical tale, capturing the ineffable summers of youth in amber. Celebrated novelist Philippe Besson has shaped his memories into an aching meditation on how one summer night—and one fierce connection—can echo across a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47456441598188,"sku":"9781398556058","price":55.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/e3df78c9772ae9dfc79f16384b62d41b.jpg?v=1775016575"},{"product_id":"lie-with-me-by-philippe-besson-9781501197888","title":"Lie with Me","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"I remember the movement of his hips pressing against the pinball machine. This one sentence had me in its grip until the end. Two young men find each other, always fearing that life itself might be the villain standing in their way. A stunning and heart-gripping tale.\" — André Aciman, author of \u003cem\u003eCall Me by Your Name\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe critically acclaimed, internationally beloved novel by Philippe Besson — \u003cem\u003ethis year's Call Me By Your Name\u003c\/em\u003e (Vulture) — with raves in \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/em\u003e, NPR, \u003cem\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eVogue\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eO, The Oprah Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eOut\u003c\/em\u003e — about an affair between two teenage boys in 1984 France, translated with subtle beauty and haunting lyricism by the iconic and internationally acclaimed actress and writer Molly Ringwald.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this \"sexy, pure, and radiant story\" (\u003cem\u003eOut\u003c\/em\u003e), Philippe chances upon a young man outside a hotel in Bordeaux who bears a striking resemblance to his first love. What follows is a look back at the relationship he's never forgotten, a hidden affair with a boy named Thomas during their last year of high school.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThomas is the son of a farmer; Philippe the son of a school principal. At school, they don't acknowledge each other. But they steal time to meet in secret, carrying on a passionate, world-altering affair. Despite the intensity of their attraction, from the beginning Thomas knows how it will end: \"Because you will leave and we will stay,\" he says.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePhilippe becomes a writer and travels the world, though as this \"tender, sensuous novel\" (\u003cem\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e) shows, he never lets go of the relationship that shaped him, and every story he's ever told. \"Beautifully translated by Ringwald\" (NPR), this is \"Philippe Besson's book of a lifetime...an elegiac tale of first, hidden love\" (\u003cem\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/em\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ingram Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47643019837676,"sku":"9781501197888","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9fa4729aefb286ef18f78750ab55d46b.jpg?v=1779170466"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/philippe-besson.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}