Gourmet Rhapsody [Paperback]

From the author of theNew York Timesbestseller,The Elegance of the Hedgehog.

In the heart of Paris, in the posh building made famous inThe Elegance of the Hedgehog, Pierre Arthens, the greatest food critic in the world, is dying. Revered by some and reviled by many, Monsieur Arthens has been lording it over the world's most esteemed chefs for years, passing judgment on their creations, deciding their fates with a stroke of his pen, destroying and building reputations on a whim. But now, during these his final hours, his mind has turned to simpler things. He is desperately searching for that singular flavor, that sublime something once sampled, never forgotten,the Flavorpar excellence. Indeed, this flamboyant and self-absorbed man desires only one thing before he dies: one last taste.

Thus begins a charming voyage that traces the career of Monsieur Arthens from childhood to maturity across a celebration of all manner of culinary delights. Alternating with the voice of the supercilious Arthens is a chorus belonging to his acquaintances and familiarsrelatives, lovers, a would-be protégé, even a cat. Each will have his or her say about M. Arthens, a man who has inspired only extreme emotions in people. Here, as inThe Elegance of Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery's story celebrates life's simple pleasures and sublime moments while condemning the arrogance and vulgarity of power.CAMuriel Barbery was born in 1969 in Casablanca. She studied philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure and worked for many years as a philosophy teacher in France. HerNew York Timesbestselling novelThe Elegance of the Hedgehog(Europa Editions, 2008) has been published in over thirty countries. Barbery now lives in Japan and is working on a third novel.Praise forGourmet Rhapsody

Gourmet Rhapsodyshows all the skill ofHedgehogand deals with the same themes: social classlƒ+