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Perfume

The Story of a Murderer
By Patrick Süskind
Series: Penguin Essentials
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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
Perfume by Patrick Süskind is a captivating novel set in 18th-century France, following the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man gifted with an extraordinary sense of smell. Driven by his obsession to create the perfect scent, Grenouille embarks on a dark quest, exploring the intricate world of fragrance creation. His journey delves into themes of identity, obsession, and the human condition, offering a richly atmospheric and thought-provoking narrative.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you have an interest in dark, atmospheric tales set in 18th-century France, exploring the life of a peculiar protagonist with an extraordinary sense of smell. It's a gripping exploration of obsession, sensory experience, and the quest for perfection, wrapped in a compelling blend of historical fiction and psychological thriller.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Clever, stylish, and absorbing, this book tells a tale of murder and twisted eroticism controlled by a disgusted loathing of humanity.

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in a Parisian slum and abandoned on the streets, discovers he has an extraordinary - near superhuman - sense of smell. As he sniffs his way across France, this gift is exploited by Grenouille to make the world's most marvellous perfumes.

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

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in a Parisian slum and abandoned on the streets, discovers he has an extraordinary—near superhuman—sense of smell. As he sniffs his way across France, this gift is exploited by Grenouille to make the world's most marvellous perfumes.

Patrick Süskind's Perfume is a classic novel of death and sensuality in Paris, published as a Penguin Essential for the first time.

'In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. His name was Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, and if his name has been forgotten today, it is certainly not because Grenouille fell short of those more famous blackguards when it came to arrogance, misanthropy, immorality, or, more succinctly, wickedness, but because his gifts and his sole ambition were restricted to a domain that leaves no traces in history—to the fleeting realm of scent ...'

An astonishing tour de force both in concept and execution - Guardian

A fantastic tale of murder and twisted eroticism controlled by a disgusted loathing of humanity ... Clever, stylish, absorbing and well worth reading - Literary Review

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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?

Perfume by Patrick Süskind is acclaimed for its atmospheric storytelling and richly detailed depiction of 18th-century France. The novel is lauded for its unique premise, following a protagonist with an extraordinary sense of smell and a dark, gripping plot. Some reviews highlight the intricate prose and its exploration of obsession and identity, though a few note its Gothic undertones as unsettling.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241973615

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 110.0mm

Height: 179.0mm

Weight: 150g

Pages: 272

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Patrick Süskind Penguin Books Series: Penguin Essentials

About the Author

Patrick S skind was born near Munich in 1949 and studied medieval and modern history at the University of Munich. His first play, The Double Bass, was written in 1980 and became an international success. His first novel, Perfume was also an internationally acclaimed bestseller and continues to be considered a classic. He is also the author of The Pigeon and Mr. Summer's Story, and a coauthor of the enormously successful German television series Kir Royal. Patrick S skind lives and writes in Munich.

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