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Collection Blanche cover (first edition) | |
| Author | Leïla Slimani |
|---|---|
| Audio read by |
Clotilde Courau (French)
[1] Finty Williams (English) [2] |
| Original title | Chanson douce |
| Translator | Sam Taylor |
| Language | French |
| Series | Collection Blanche |
| Set in | 10th arrondissement of Paris [3] |
| Publisher | Éditions Gallimard |
Publication date | 18 August 2016 [4] |
| Publication place | France |
Published in English | 9 January 2018 [5] |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 240 [4] |
| Awards | Prix Goncourt (2016) |
| ISBN | 978-2-07-019667-8 [4] |
| 843/.92 | |
| LC Class | PQ2719.L56 C43 2016 |
Lullaby (French: Chanson douce, lit. 'Sweet song'; [6] published as The Perfect Nanny in the United States) is a 2016 novel by French author Leïla Slimani.
Plot
The book deals with the murder of two children by their nanny. [7] It was inspired by the real-life 2012 murder of children by their nanny in New York. [8] [9]
Background
Lullaby is Slimani's second novel [8] and the first to be translated into English. [10] By January 2018 it had been translated into 18 languages, with intentions for a further 17. [8] [7] Originally titled Chanson douce, it was translated as Lullaby for the UK and The Perfect Nanny in the US. [8]
It sold 600,000 copies in France in its first year of publication. [8]
Publication history
- Chanson douce. France: Éditions Gallimard. 18 August 2016. ISBN 978-2-07-019667-8. 240 pages. [4]
- Lullaby. United Kingdom: Faber and Faber. 11 January 2018. ISBN 978-0571337538. 224 pages. [11]
- The Perfect Nanny. United States: Penguin Books. 9 January 2018. ISBN 978-0143132172. 240 pages. [5]
Critical reception
Lullaby was described by Aida Edemariam (writing in The Guardian) as "stylishly written [...] brilliantly executed". [10] It was compared to Gone Girl by both Celia Walden of The Telegraph [9] and Lucy Scholes of The Independent, with the latter describing it as "a psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats". [12]
The novel won the 2016 Prix Goncourt, a top French literary award. [13]
Film adaptation
In 2019, a film adaptation, of the same name in certain countries and entitled Perfect Nanny in some others, was made by director Lucie Borleteau, starring Karin Viard, Leïla Bekhti and Antoine Reinartz. [14]
Television adaptation
In January 2023, it was reported that a planned television limited series adaptation entitled The Perfect Nanny was in development at HBO with Legendary Television co-producing. Nicole Kidman and Maya Erskine are set to star. [15]
References
- ^ "Chanson douce - Écoutez lire". Éditions Gallimard.
- ^ "The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani". Penguin Random House Audio.
- ^ Weiss-Meyer, Amy (30 January 2018). "The Eerie Horrors of The Perfect Nanny". The Atlantic.
- ^ a b c d "Chanson douce - Blanche". Éditions Gallimard.
- ^ a b "The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani". Penguin Random House.
- ^ Morenne, Benoît (3 November 2016). "Leïla Slimani Wins Prix Goncourt, France's Top Literary Award". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ a b Eva Wiseman (28 January 2018). "Lullaby, the book of the moment, is a wake-up call for us all". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Lauren Collins (1 January 2018). "The Killer-Nanny Novel That Conquered France". The New Yorker. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ a b Celia Walden (6 December 2016). "Is Chanson Douce the next Gone Girl? This author's book on a killer nanny is next year's must-read". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ a b Aida Edemariam (10 January 2018). "Lullaby by Leïla Slimani review – brilliantly unsettling". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Lullaby". Faber & Faber.
- ^ Lucy Scholes (10 January 2018). "Lullaby by Leïla Slimani, book review: A chilling, horror-filled read, for sure". The Independent. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Romain Jeanticou (3 November 2016). "Goncourt 2016 : Leïla Slimani primée pour "Chanson douce"" (in French). Telerama. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (29 November 2019). "'Perfect Nanny' ('Chanson douce'): Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 27, 2023). "Nicole Kidman & Maya Erskine To Headline & EP 'The Perfect Nanny' Limited Series In Works At HBO From 'Pen15' Co-Creator & Legendary". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 27, 2023.