Short Novels: Three Novellas (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)

"Elegant, unpretentious, approachable... In sum, a truly endearing Nobelist," remarked Michael Dirda of the Washington Post. Adam Thirlwell from The Guardian acclaimed Patrick Modiano as "a pure original," while The Economist lauded these novellas as "a fine introduction to Modiano’s later work," and Dwight Garner of the New York Times declared that "these novellas have a mood. They cast a spell."

In this indispensable trilogy of novellas by Patrick Modiano, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature, the French author delves into the recesses of memory, unraveling its mysteries. Comprising Afterimage, Suspended Sentences, and Flowers of Ruin, each novella stands as a testament to Modiano’s singular creativity and enduring appeal. Mark Polizzotti’s masterful translations preserve not just Modiano’s distinct narrative voice but also the exquisite elegance and restrained beauty of his prose.

Though initially published separately, Modiano’s novellas coalesce into a cohesive narrative imbued with a nostalgic aura of place and characters. Drawing from personal experiences and intertwining them with real or fictional tales, Modiano constructs a quasi-autobiographical dreamscape that doubles as a portrait of a city. Orphans, enigmatic parents, forgotten acquaintances, and mysterious strangers populate this three-part ode to a bygone Paris.

Set against the shadow of Nazi Occupation, these novellas showcase Modiano’s preoccupation with the lost, the obscure, and the enigmatic: the confusion of youth confronted by adult complexities, the enduring impact of a chance encounter, the quest for a vanished father, the aftermath of a tragic affair. To read Modiano’s trilogy is to step into a realm of uncertainties, where destinies are shaped almost inadvertently.

Patrick Modiano’s exploration of memory, identity, and the elusive nature of truth resonates throughout these narratives. His evocative prose transports readers to a Paris haunted by history and personal mythology, where each novella unfolds like a reverie, inviting reflection on the fragments of lives lived and lost. With his trademark blend of lyricism and restraint, Modiano invites readers to ponder the intersections of personal and collective memory, reminding us of the enduring power of storytelling to illuminate the complexities of human experience.

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