Leila Slimani's second novel Lullaby is a phenomenon. Having sold over 600,000 copies and won the Prix Goncourt in her adopted homeland of France, the book is now spreading around the world in various translations. A movie has begun filming in France and there are rumours of a Hollywood adaptation as well. The reason for the fuss is a plot that grips like a thriller and prose that dissects contemporary life like the most acute literary novel. The nanny of the well-to-do Masse family murders the two children in her care. From this terse, shocking opening, Slimani rewinds to examine the pressures that led up to the tragedy.
In Part One of our conversation at her London publishers, Slimani talks about titles, tragedy, modern parenting, the challenges of being a nanny and how families rely on women from across the world to facilitate their lives.
Part two to follow.
These Our Monsters LIVE: Sarah Moss reads from ’Breakynecky’
Graeme Macrae Burnet reads from ’The Dark Thread’ (These Our Monsters)
Fiona Mozley reads from ’The Loathly Lady’ (These Our Monsters)
Edward Carey reads from ’These Our Monsters’
Simon Barnes Reading: on closely-observed gannets
A Conversation with Simon Barnes - Part 2
A Conversation with Simon Barnes - Part 1
Simon Barnes reads from The Meaning of Birds
Episode 142 - Amanda Coe: Part 1
Episode 141 - Leila Slimani - Lullaby: Part 4
Episode 140 - Leila Slimani - Lullaby: Part 3
Episode 139 - Leila Slimani - Lullaby: Part 2
Episode 137 - Lynn Shepherd: Part 4
Episode 136 - Lynn Shepherd's Advice to Budding Writers
Episode 135 - Lynn Shepherd: Part 3
Episode 134 - Lynn Shepherd: Part 2
Episode 133 - Lynn Shepherd: Part 1
Episode 132 - Neel Mukherjee: Part 3
Episode 131 - Neel Mukherjee: Part 2
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