Young Once (New York Review Books Classics)

An NYRB Classics Original, Young Once is a crucial book in the career of Nobel laureate Patrick Modiano, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. It was his breakthrough novel, in which he stripped away the difficulties of his earlier work and found a clear, mysteriously moving voice for his haunting stories of love, nostalgia, and grief. The book has also been called "the most gripping Modiano book of all" (Der Spiegel).

The story follows Odile and Louis, who are leading a happy, bucolic life with their two children in the French countryside near the Swiss mountains. It is Odile's thirty-fifth birthday, and Louis's thirty-fifth birthday is a few weeks away. However, the narrative then shifts back to their early years.

Louis, just freed from his military service and at loose ends, is taken up by a shady character who brings him to Paris to do some work for a friend who manages a garage. Meanwhile, Odile, an aspiring singer, is at the mercy of the kindness and unkindness of strangers. In a Paris that is steeped in crime and full of secrets, Odile and Louis find each other and struggle together to create what, looking back, will have been their youth.

The novel's elegant and evocative prose delves into the complexities of memory, identity, and the elusive nature of happiness. Modiano's masterful storytelling weaves together the threads of the protagonists' lives, revealing the fragile and fleeting moments that shape their destinies.

Young Once is a testament to Modiano's literary prowess, showcasing his ability to capture the subtle nuances of human experience and the bittersweet melancholy that often accompanies the passage of time. The book's haunting atmosphere and the author's distinctive voice have cemented its place as one of the most significant works in Modiano's acclaimed oeuvre.

Through the lives of Odile and Louis, the novel explores the universal themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a world that can be both enchanting and cruel. The reader is drawn into the characters' journeys, experiencing the triumphs and tragedies that define their lives and the indelible mark they leave on one another.

Young Once is a captivating and poignant addition to NYRB Classics, offering readers a rich and rewarding encounter with the singular voice of Patrick Modiano. It is a work that resonates long after the final page, leaving an indelible impression on the reader's mind and heart.

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