When Louisa Deasey receives a message from a Frenchwoman called Coralie, who has found a cache of letters in an attic, written about Louisa's father, neither woman can imagine the events it will set in motion.
The letters, dated 1949, detail a passionate affair between Louisa's father, Denison, and Coralie's grandmother, Michelle, in post-war London. They spark Louisa to find out more about her father, who died when she was six. From the seemingly simple question 'Who was Denison Deasey?' follows a trail of discovery that leads Louisa to the libraries of Melbourne and the streets of London, to the cafes and restaurants of Paris and a poet's villa in the south of France. From her father's secret service in World War II to his relationships with some of the most famous bohemian artists in post-war Europe, Louisa unearths a portrait of a fascinating man, both at the epicentre and the mercy of the social and political currents of his time.
A Letter from Paris is about the stories we tell ourselves, and the secrets the past can uncover. A compelling tale of inheritance and creativity, loss and reunion, it shows the power of the written word to cross the bridges of time.
Louisa Deasey is a Melbourne-based writer who has published widely, including in Overland, Vogue, The Australian, and The Saturday Age. Her first memoir, Love and Other U-Turns, was nominated for the Nita B. Kibble Award for women writers.
Title: A Letter from Paris: a true story of hidden art, lost romance, and family reclaimed
Author: Louisa Deasey
ISBN: 9781911617457
Binding:
Publisher: Scribe Publications
Publication Date: 2018-09-06
Number of Pages: 336
Weight: 0.4801 kg
'An enchanting memoir that will stay with you long after you close the book.'
-- Rebecca Raisin, bestselling author of the
Little Paris Collection'A beautiful celebration of the profound healing power of stories shared.'
-- Karina Machado, author of
Spirit Sisters'An amazing story which gave me tingles.'
-- Carla Coulson, author of
Paris Tango and
Italian Joy'The most affecting story here is that of the story itself: the tensions between what is written and what is spoken, and who controls the narrative ... A Letter from Paris is a sobering reminder of the ease with which our stories can be warped by the prevailing attitudes of the time - and the crucial importance of archives in the preservation of lives and literature.
-- Marion Rankine *
The Guardian *
'Truly enthralling reading ... Louisa's writing is raw, intimate and unpretentious, and she shares her experiences in such a way that the reader is invested from page one.'
*
Better Reading *
'[A] fascinating and moving memoir.'
* Nudge-Book *
'[This] is a must read for memoir lovers.'
* The French Village Diaries *
'What emerges is the portrait of a fascinating and unconventional man who lived life to the full. For readers interested in family history, the message is simple. Don't give up!'
-- Christopher Bantick * Weekly Times *
'Enchanting.'
* The New Daily *
'A beautiful, true story, engagingly told. So much joy and kindness between the covers.'
-- Natasha Lester, author of
The Paris Seamstress
