'One of the most exquisite debuts I've read for some time' Daily Telegraph

'Affecting and haunting' Observer

After the death of his wife, a father raises his two sons alone. His bond with Fus, the eldest, and Gillou, the youngest, is a close one. But their town is not one of opportunity, and it soon becomes clear that the boys are heading down different paths. Gillou sets his sights on university in Paris. Fus, despite his socialist upbringing, falls in with the local far-right group. Though he joins mostly for the camaraderie, their activities, which might on the surface appear harmless, lead to a violent confrontation.

How can a father and son find common ground when everything seems set to break them apart? A sudden tragedy will force them to find an answer.

Tense, sharp and ultimately heartbreaking, Laurent Petitmangin's first novel, What You Need From The Night, shines a spotlight on lives that are unfolding in forgotten corners of France and asks what acts can truly be forgiven.

'A tragedy of unconditional love' - L'Obs

'Heartbreaking . . . haunts you long after you've put it down'- Liberation

'As sublime as it is painful' - Le Parisien

A short, heartbreaking debut novel about a father and son, the lure of the far right in marginalized communities, and how the bonds of love survive acts of violence.

About the Author
Laurent Petitmangin was born in 1965 in the east of France into a family of railway workers. He works for Air France KLM. He has written a number of manuscripts over the years that have mostly sat in a drawer. He now lives with his four children around Paris. What You Need From The Night is his first novel. It won many prizes in France, including the Prix Femina des lyceens.

Reviews
Heartbreaking . . . haunts you long after you've put it down * Liberation *
A tragedy of unconditional love * L'Obs *
As sublime as it is painful * Le Parisien *
A poignant, modest, moving book * Telerama *
It's impossible not to devour this heartbreaking and beautiful short text in one gulp * Psychologie Mag *
An unforgettable first novel, Laurent Petitmangin writes as one lives. And it's dazzling * L'Est Republicain *
Petitmangin tells his story of generational shock with a painful quality, a deep voice charged with sadness and a touching efficiency. Memorable * El Pais *
A block of raw emotion * Paris Match *
He describes with inifinite accuracy the violence of a father not being able to recognise his son anymore * Femme Actuelle *
It shines with the dazzling yet minimalist style that probes hearts and consciences * La Provence *
Magnificent! * France Inter *
Everytime, Laurent Petitmangin finds the right word * Le Figaro *



Book Information
ISBN 9781529063509
Author Laurent Petitmangin
Format Hardback
Page Count 160
Imprint Picador
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 276g
Dimensions(mm) 224mm * 144mm * 22mm