The Origin of the World

An exploration of desire by the French master Pierre Michon

“A haunting, imagistic book, somehow both lush and spare.”—Martin Riker, Wall Street Journal

This spare, unforgettable novel is Pierre Michon’s luminous exploration of the mysteries of desire. A young teacher takes his first job in a sleepy French town. Lost in a succession of rainy days and sleepless nights, he falls under the spell of a town resident, a woman of seductive beauty and singular charm.
Yvonne. Yvonne. “Everything a...