What You Need From The Night
Laurent Petitmangin
'One of the most exquisite debuts I've read' - Daily Telegraph
'Affecting and haunting' - Observer
After the death of his wife, a father in a forgotten corner of France raises his two sons alone. But their town is not one of opportunity, and the boys are heading down different paths. Gillou sets his sights on university in Paris while Fus falls in with the local far-right group, searching for meaning and belonging with dangerous friends.
How can a father and son find common ground when everything seems set to break them apart? A sudden act of violence will force them to find an answer.
Tense, sharp and ultimately heartbreaking, Laurent Petitmangin's first novel, What You Need From The Night, asks what acts can truly be forgiven.
'A tragedy of unconditional love' - L'Obs
'Heartbreaking . . . haunts you long after you've put it down'- Libération
'As sublime as it is painful' - Le Parisien
Product Details
About Laurent Petitmangin
Reviews for What You Need From The Night
Daily Telegraph
Affecting and haunting
Observer
A short blast of a novel: a howl of pain, impotence and rage. The prose, fluently translated by Shaun Whiteside, is precise and unadorned
Spectator
Heartbreaking . . . haunts you long after you've put it down
Libération
A tragedy of unconditional love
L'Obs
As sublime as it is painful
Le Parisien
A poignant, modest, moving book
Télérama
It's impossible not to devour this heartbreaking and beautiful short text in one gulp
Psychologie Mag
An unforgettable first novel, Laurent Petitmangin writes as one lives. And it's dazzling
L'Est Républicain
Petitmangin tells his story of generational shock with a painful quality, a deep voice charged with sadness and a touching efficiency. Memorable
El País
A block of raw emotion
Paris Match
He describes with inifinite accuracy the violence of a father not being able to recognise his son anymore
Femme Actuelle
It shines with the dazzling yet minimalist style that probes hearts and consciences
La Provence
Magnificent!
France Inter
Everytime, Laurent Petitmangin finds the right word
Le Figaro