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The Kites
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Check link for latest rating. ( 6,982 ratings, 696 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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The Kites
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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?
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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
Published in France in 1980, The Kites is a beautifully written novel about the triumph of joy over darkness.
Set in Normandy before and during WWII, The Kites is narrated by a young orphan, Ludo Fleury, who is madly in love with Lila de Bronicki, a charming and self-absorbed Polish aristocrat. Despite the looming war, Ludo remains obstinately in love with Lila and becomes involved in the Resistance.
Ludoβs uncle and guardian, the colourful Ambroise Fleury, a passionate amateur kite-maker, is deported to Auschwitz. Meanwhile, Ambroiseβs best friend, Marcellin Duprat, one of Franceβs greatest chefs, battles the Occupation with an unrelenting love of haute cuisine. Additionally, Julie Espinoza, a Parisian madame, refashions herself as a collaborationist countess, running a Resistance network under the noses of the Nazis.
Written by one of the greatest and best-loved French authors, The Kites is both a ripping good story and a sobering reflection on the tragic human tendency to search for an enemy. It's funny and heartbreaking, dark and optimistic, tender and unsparing.
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?
The Kites by Romain Gary is praised for its rich, layered love story that evolves amidst hardship and war. Reviewers note its ability to blend humour and whimsy with themes of idealism, creativity, and the harsh realities of war, offering shades of humanity that are both colourful and nuanced. The book is described as a treasure, filled with insight and bittersweet candour, and its narrative serves as a form of resistance akin to its context within World War II.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781925498813
Publisher: Text Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 30 October 2017
Country: Australia
Imprint: The Text Publishing Company
Contributors:
- Translated by Miranda Richmond Mouillot
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 153.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 384
Collections
About the Author
Born in 1914 in what is now Lithuania, Romain Gary wrote nearly thirty novels and numerous short stories and screenplays. He was twice awarded Franceβs most prestigious literary award, the Prix Goncourt, once under his own name, and once under the pseudonym Emile Ajar.
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