Cécile Coulon

Seule en sa demeure

Alone in Her House

August 19, 2021
Novel
336 pages
130 × 180 mm
19 €
9782378802400
978-2-3788-0240-0
Cover by Quintin Leeds, illustration by Vincent Roché
																Cécile Coulon, Seule en sa demeure
																Cécile Coulon, Seule en sa demeure

A story about wild hopes and desires, in a 19th century dominated by prohibitions.

Cécile Coulon plunges us into the throes of an arranged marriage, such as there were so many of the 19th century. At eighteen, Aimée submits to the cold charm of Candre Marchère, a rich landowner from the Jura. Full of hope and illusions, she leaves her family for the “Forêt d’Or” estate. But very quickly, she comes up against her husband’s silence and the omnipotence of Henria, the servant. Surrounded by the dense forest, stunned by the cries of birds, Aimée searches for her place. The house is haunted by the ghost of Aleth, Candre’s first wife, who died suddenly shortly after her marriage. Aimée sleeps in her bed, wears her dresses, gives herself to the same man. What has happened to her? Until the day when Emeline, who has come to give flute lessons, shatters this closed world. As the lessons progress, her presence disturbs Aimée and awakens her sensuality. The “Forêt d’Or” then becomes the scene of desires and embedded secrets.

Seule en sa demeure is a story of domination, passion and frustrated love.

The author

Since writing her first book at seventeen years old, Cécile Coulon never ceases to surprise and amaze us. In just a few years, she has produced six novels, including Trois saisons d’orage, winner of the Prix des libraires, and a collection of poems (Prix Apollinaire 2017).
Her novel, A Beast in Paradise (Une bête au paradis, L’Iconoclaste, August 2019), was awarded the Prix littéraire Le Monde in 2019.

August 19, 2021
Novel
336 pages
130 × 180 mm
19 €
9782378802400
978-2-3788-0240-0
Cover by Quintin Leeds, illustration by Vincent Roché