From Powells.com
Staff Pick
Elegant and poetic, Muriel Barbery's tale of two 11-year-old girls with mysterious origins takes us from the French countryside to Italian mountains and cities, as we learn about their lives and fantastic pasts. Recommended By Lonnan R., Powells.com
Muriel Barbery returns with a tale of young girls who are able to communicate with both humans and elves. It's an enchanting story, full of wonder and graced by Barbery’s exquisite use of language. Recommended By Mary Jo S., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
A moving and deeply felt homage to the power of nature and art by one of the world's most beloved authors.
Maria lives in a remote village in Burgundy, where she learns that
she has a gift for communicating with nature. Hundreds of miles away in
Italy, Clara discovers that she possesses a stunning musical genius and
is sent from the countryside to Rome to develop her preternatural
abilities. Barbery's The Life of Elves tells the story of two
children whose extraordinary talents will bring them into contact with
magical worlds and malevolent forces. If, against all odds, they can be
brought together, their meeting may shape the course of history.
Seven years after the publication of her international bestseller,
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery returns with a lyrical
novel about the quest for enchantment in a world that seems to have
forgotten such a thing ever existed. With its cast of unforgettable
characters, each fighting to preserve a sense of enchantment, The Life
of Elves is a poetic meditation on art, nature, dreams, and the role
of the imagination.
Review
"...this fervent, idiosyncratic fable is undeniable evidence of a richly lyrical imagination." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Fans of both Barbery and fantasy from writers like Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will be enchanted." Library Journal
Review
"Vivid imagery and a thread of mystery draw readers into the timeless and ethereal world of these young girls with a destiny to fulfill." Booklist
About the Author
Muriel Barbery is the author of the international bestseller, The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2007), and Gourmet Rhapsody (2009). Her newest novel, The Life of Elves, will be published by Europa Editions in February 2016.