200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

Gigi

By Colette
3.62 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 2,388 ratings, 260 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Gigi by Colette is a charming novella set in turn-of-the-century Paris, exploring the life of a spirited young girl named Gigi. Raised by her family to become a courtesan in a refined society, Gigi finds herself questioning the path set before her. As she navigates societal expectations and her own desires, the story captures the nuances of love, independence, and transformation with wit and elegance.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2699
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate charming coming-of-age stories set in early 20th-century Paris, featuring a young protagonist navigating societal expectations and personal identity. Its witty dialogue and vivid depiction of a bygone era offer a delightful escape to those who love character-driven tales with cultural and historical undertones.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

'He must know by now, I should think, that I can give as good as I get!'

This is the story of Gigi, educated as a future courtesan in Paris, her days are filled with cigars, lobster, lace and superstitions.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world.

He must know by now, I should think, that I can give as good as I get!

This is the story of Gigi, educated as a future courtesan in Paris. Her days are filled with cigars, lobster, lace, and superstitions. Bored and unconvinced by what she's taught, Gigi surprises everyone with her earnest approach to love.

In this classic turn-of-the-century novella, Colette unveils Gigi's journey into womanhood in rich and supple prose.

Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world.

Series: Vintage Heroines

View all
  • My Year of Rest and Relaxation
    In My Year of Rest and Relaxation, acclaimed author Ottessa Moshfegh presents a darkly comedic and profoundly moving exploration of a young woman's desire to abandon the chaos of life. The protagonist, a nameless narrator, appears to have it all: youth, beauty, and financial security that allows her to live in a luxurious apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. However,...
    Paperback
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    13% off
    Push
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. I'm alive inside. A bird is my heart. Mama and Daddy is not win. I'm winning. This is the story of Precious, a sixteen-year-old illiterate Black girl who has never been out of Harlem. Pregnant by her own father for the second...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Jane Eyre
    Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontΓ« is a timeless classic that weaves a compelling narrative of resilience, love, and mystery. Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, this poignant story follows the life of Jane Eyre, an orphaned girl subjected to the harsh cruelty of her aunt and the austere regime of the charity school she is forced to attend. Despite...
    Paperback
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth tells the story of Fenfang, who is determined to carve out a life more independent than her provincial roots. She secures a job as a film extra in Beijing, but living a modern life is not...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Gigi
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. He must know by now, I should think, that I can give as good as I get! This is the story of Gigi, educated as a future courtesan in Paris. Her days are filled with cigars, lobster, lace, and superstitions. Bored and...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • I Capture the Castle
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. 'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink...' This is the story of Cassandra, precocious and charming, who begins a journal detailing her life with her bohemian family in a crumbling old castle. On the cusp of adulthood, Cassandra meets the family's...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. 'At that time I could not imagine what would become of me, and I didn't care. It was not judgement day, but another morning.' This is the story of Jeanette, adopted and brought up by working-class evangelists in the North of England...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Backorder
    Ships early December
  • We Need New Names
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. 'There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry for my country and nothing is going to fix that.' This is the story of Darling, uprooted from...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • White Chrysanthemum
    β€˜Look for your sister after each dive. Never forget. If you see her, you are safe.’ This is the story of Hana and her little sister Emi, who are part of an island community of haenyo, women who make their living from free diving off the southernmost tip of Korea. One day Hana sees a Japanese soldier heading for where...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Madame Bovary
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. Madame Bovary tells the story of Emma, who is trapped in a disappointing marriage with a dull country doctor, and dreams of a life more like the sentimental novels she reads. In an attempt to escape the drab reality of her provincial...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Many readers praise Gigi for its elegant style and rich prose, often describing the writing as both intricate and beautifully crafted. The narrative's audacity and charm capture the attention of those who appreciate literary finesse.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784877439

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 October 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 9.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 117g

Pages: 160

About the Author

Colette, the creator of Claudine, Cheri and Gigi, and one of France's outstanding writers, had a long, varied and active life. She was born in Burgundy on 1873 into a home overflowing with dogs, cats and children, and educated at the local village school. At the age of twenty she moved to Paris with her first husband, the notorious writer and critic Henry Gauthier-Villas (Willy). By locking her in her room, Willy forced Collette to write her first novels (the Claudine sequence), which he published under his name. They were an instant success. Colettte left Willy in 1906 and worked in music-halls as an actor and dancer. She had a love affair with Napoleon's niece, married twice more, had a baby at 40 and at 47. Her writing, which included novels, portraits, essays and a large body of autobiographical prose, was admired by Proust and Gide. She was the first woman President of the Academie Goncourt, and when she died, aged 81, she was given a state funeral and buried in P re Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Also by Colette

View all
  • Cheri
    VINTAGE CLASSICS FRENCH SERIES - stunning flapped paperback editions showcasing the bestselling, most acclaimed French writers of the twentieth century. Cheri is Colette's famous love story about the romance between an older woman and a younger man. Lea de Lonval is a magnificent and aging courtesan facing the end of her career. She has devoted the last six years to...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Chance Acquaintances and Julie De Carneilhan
    'A perpetual feast to the reader. Her prose is rich, flawless, intricate, audacious and utterly beautiful' - Raymond Mortimer Set in pre-war Paris, Julie de Carneilhan tells of the complex relationship between the proud but impoverished Julie and her former husband, the Comte d'Espivant, who has remarried a wealthy widow. Julie de Carneilhan was the last full-length novel Colette was...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $3700
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Claudine at School
    Claudine at School is a captivating tale set in a small rural village in France, where the spirited and rebellious Claudine attends the local girls' school. Full of adventure and mischief, Claudine knows how to fill her days with excitement. This book is part of the Macmillan Collector's Library, a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics bound in real cloth with...
    By Colette
    Hardback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Claudine At School
    Claudine At School introduces Claudine, a headstrong, clever and extremely mischievous schoolgirl. Along with her friendsβ€”the lanky Anais, the cheerful Marie, and the prim Joubert twinsβ€”Claudine wreaks havoc on her small school. Always clever, witty, and charming, Claudine is more than a match for her formidable headmistress as they compete for the attention of the pretty assistant Aimee. The horrors...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $3200
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Claudine Married
    The third book in the Claudine series, which became a cultural phenomenon in early 20th century France, is featured in the new, acclaimed film Colette, starring Keira Knightley, released in January 2019. The stories that inspired the film Colette, released in January 2019. The third book in Colette's enchanting Claudine series. Following the excitement of a shared life in Paris,...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Claudine And Annie
    The fourth and final book in the Claudine series which became a cultural phenomenon in early 20th century France - featured in the new, acclaimed film Colette, starring Keira Knightley, out Jan 2019. The stories that inspired the film Colette, out Jan 2019. In this final novel in Colette's famous series, it is Claudine's friend Annie who tells the story...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Collected Stories Of Colette
    Comprising 100 stories, this anthology includes Bella-Vista, The Tender Shoot, and Le Kepi, Colette's subtle and ruthless rendering of a woman's belated sexual awakening. These short stories reverberate with the colours and flavours of the Parisian world and the fertile French countryside.
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Claudine's House
    Pre-order
    Claudine's House
    Colette's irresistible depiction of a childhood in rural France, in a lush new translation by Belinda Jack. 'I was an independent, stray dog who answered to no one...' Claudine lives in a large house with a rose-filled garden and a vegetable patch smelling of tomato leaves and apricots. Beyond her house is the village, where travelling performers stop for the...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $2800
    Pre-order
    Out 24 Nov 2026
  • The Vagabond
    Pre-order
    The Vagabond
    The Vagabond is Colette's subversive and witty tale of a dancer in Belle Γ‰poque France, presented here in a fresh new Penguin Classics translation. RenΓ©e, aged thirty-three and divorced from her serially unfaithful husband, reinvents herself as a dancer in France's music halls. When a wealthy suitor appears, promising marriage and stability, RenΓ©e must choose between the security he represents...
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $2800
    Pre-order
    Out 2 Mar 2027
  • The Cat
    Enjoy a BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Colette, France's most daring chronicler of desire, in this sparkling story of love, society, and awakening. A Parisian comedy of manners where wit meets rebellion. Raised by her family to become a courtesan, young Gigi scandalises everyone by refusing the path laid out for her. Instead, she dares to seek love on her own terms....
    By Colette
    Paperback
    $2400
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Pure and the Impure
    Lyrical, allusive, sometimes obscure, yet precise, The Pure and the Impure has elicited equal parts consternation and praise since its publication nearly 100 years ago. Colette herself was unequivocal: "I believe it to be my best book." Through strikingly vivid and evocative portraits, many of them of her friends and lovers, Colette explores varieties of sexual expression, gender identity, love,...
    By Colette
    Hardback
    $7100
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • ChΓ©ri and The End of ChΓ©ri
    Colette's celebrated novels about an older courtesan and her young lover, now in a new translation and published in one volume. Colette's ChΓ©ri (1920) and its sequel, The End of ChΓ©ri (1926), are widely considered her masterpieces. In sensuous, elegant prose, the two novels explore the evolving inner lives and the intimate relationship of an unlikely couple: LΓ©a de Lonval,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Browse lists from our team

More from General Fiction

View all
  • On Sale
    13% off
    Yesteryear
    A BOLD AND BITING SATIRE. WILL HAVE YOU GASPING TO THE FINAL PAGE β€” Nita Prose WICKEDLY FUNNY, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND FRIGHTENINGLY PERCEPTIVE β€” Abigail Dean INVENTIVE, ADDICTIVE, A WILD RIDE β€” Ashley Audrain SHOT THROUGH WITH HUMOUR AND LACED WITH DARKNESS β€” Clare Mackintosh The Stepford Wives meets The Handmaid's Tale β€” Hannah Deitch My name was Natalie Heller...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    14% off
    Theo of Golden
    THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON'For anything to be truly good, there must be love in it. Nothing is what it's supposed to be if love is not at the core.' One morning, a stranger arrives in the town of Golden. No one knows who he is or where he came from…His name is Theo and he's arrived there by chance –...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    (6)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Wedding People
    'BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR' THE TIMES 'BOOKS AS FUN AS THIS ONE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN' GUARDIAN Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people β€” but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Court of Splintered Harmony
    Romance, danger, and intrigue await you in the breathtaking sixth book in the #1 bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.What was broken will be remade.Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories,...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    10% off
    New Release
    Threshing Day
    The next book in the blockbuster Empyrean series, Threshing DayΒ contains thirteen stories starring your favorite characters and their dragons. The deluxe first edition includes sixteen beautiful original full-color illustrations by artist Joe Requeza.Β  Β  Rebecca Yarros is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing and In the...
    Hardback
    $6300
    Usually:
    $6999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Throne of Glass Box Set (Paperback)
    Enter the realm. Unleash the darkness. Live the legend. Discover the worldwide phenomenon of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Throne of Glass series in this gorgeous 8-book box set! In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not...
    Set
    $12400
    Elsewhere:
    $15500
    (6)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Chain Reaction
    Jack Reacher, \"the coolest continuing series character\" (Stephen King), returns in a brand new, pulse-pounding read from Lee and Andrew Child. The world’s bestselling hero is back in a brand new, high-octane adventure! β€˜She knew that finding Reacher would not be easy . . .’ Washington DC. General Susan Turner needs help from the only guy she knows will get...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    11% off
    Assassin’s Apprentice
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure in the rich and immersive world of the Six Duchies. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, this gripping tale introduces readers to FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard whose existence threatens the stability of the crown. When the crown prince's secret...
    Paperback
    $1700
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    20% off
    A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set (5 books)
    All five of the Court of Thorns and Roses paperbacks packaged together in a gorgeous box set. "Passionate, violent, sexy and daring." β€”USA TODAY on A Court of Thorns and Roses Feyre is a huntress. The skin of a wolf would bring enough gold to feed her sisters for a month. But the life of a magical creature comes at...
    Set
    $8000
    Elsewhere:
    $12495
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Threshing Day
    New Release
    Threshing Day
    The next book in the blockbuster Empyrean series, Threshing Day, contains thirteen stories starring your favourite characters and their dragons. The deluxe first edition includes sixteen beautiful original full-colour illustrations by artist Joe Requeza and silver-gilded edges. *while stock lasts. Discover the beloved world of the record-breaking, multi-million-copy bestselling series where power always demands a price, secrets darken every hallway,...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    19% off
    John of John
    The stunning new novel from the Booker Prize-winning,Β Sunday Times-bestselling author ofΒ Shuggie BainΒ andΒ Young Mungo.'John of JohnΒ has the emotional range and sense of sympathy of his earlier books, but this book is special, it has an urgency, an immediacy, a brilliant sense of place, the drama of fierce emotion repressed, concealed and volcanically exposed'Β - Colm TΓ³ibΓ­n'To readΒ John of JohnΒ is to move to...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    14% off
    A Court of Wings and Ruin
    The third instalment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON, romantic fantasy epic and TikTok sensation, ACOTAR. From multi-million and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas. In A Court of Wings and Ruin, the gripping third book of the ACOTAR series, Feyre Archeron faces the ultimate battle for her world. Having returned to the Spring Court, she is determined to gather...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.