Vintage 1954

In Antoine Laurain's novel Vintage 1954 (June 2019, Gallic Books), Hubert Larnaudie, patriarch of a Parisian apartment building, invites neighbours Julien, a barman at the famous Harry's Bar, antique restorer Magalie and American Airbnb tenant Bob to share a bottle of 1954 Beaujolais he has unearthed in his cellar. The following morning they find themselves waking up to a very different Paris ... 'What I would like to see is General de Gaulle back in power!' declared the man drinking a Picon-bière. Julien thought this was a perfect example of why alcohol was bad for you. Curiously, no one else seemed to find the customer's statement in any way peculiar. A workman in overalls enjoying his morning glass of white merely shrugged. Perhaps everyone felt sorry for the poor man. Julien had dropped into this little café on his way to Harry's Bar. He had spotted a vintage bus and decided to take it to work but it left just as he reached the bus stop. He had looked up at the electronic screen to find out when the next bus would be, but the screen had disappeared, along with the bus shelter. There was an old-fashioned lamp post instead. As it was unexpectedly sunny, Julien decided that a walk would be the best way to start his day. 'Don't you agree? Isn't the leader of Free France the one we all need now?' the first man went on, looking at Julien. 'Uh, yes, yes . . .' replied Julien. 'Come on, Marcel, stop bothering the customers,' said the owner, who must have weighed getting on for twenty stone. Marcel shook his head, reaching for his packet of Gauloises and lighting up. They certainly were tolerant here, thought Julien. You heard of some cafés who still let their customers smoke after hours, but never during opening time. Julien considered making a comment, but was a bit wary of upsetting the owner, given his size. In any case, the owner didn't seem bothered; he was busy dunking his croissant in his bowl of coffee. The smell of cigarette smoke was so unusual these days. At

Antoine Laurain is the award-winning author of nine novels including The Red Notebook (Indie Next, MIBA bestseller) and The President's Hat (Waterstones Book Club, Indies Introduce). His books have been translated into 25 languages and sold more than 200,000 copies in English. He lives in Paris.

Emily Boyce is a translator and editor. She was shortlisted for the French Book Office New Talent in Translation Award in 2008, the French-American Translation Prize in 2016, and the Scott Moncrieff Prize in 2021. She lives in London.

Jane Aitken is a publisher and translator from the French.

'I adore Laurain's novels... This latest love letter to the French capital more than keeps up his impressive standard' Daily Mail

'Delightfully nostalgic escapism set in a gorgeously conjured Paris of 1954' Sunday Mirror

'This delightfully entertaining comic novel is genuinely heart warming stuff. It will remind you of Amélie in the way it takes wings on a flight of fancy and soars' NB

'Like fine wine, Laurain's novels get better with each one he writes. Vintage 1954 is a charming and warm-hearted read' Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

'As inventive and perceptive a story as you could wish for' Max Easterman, European Literature Network

'A warm-hearted and witty novel that manages to be both effortlessly readable and charmingly profound at the same time' CultureFly

'An utter delight ... Warm, witty and very entertaining' Linda's Book Bag

'Someone can always come along and make our world a lot more perfect than before. One such is M Laurain himself, for he really is most readable, warm-hearted and enjoyable' The Book Bag

'One of my favourite reads this year... the story is so alluring and has timeless charm' Sissi Reads



Praise for Antoine Laurain

'It has the pleasing weirdness that makes Laurain's novels so appealing' The Sunday Times

'Hilarious, formidable - and essential packing for any French Summer holiday' Daily Mail

'A brisk black comedy' The Guardian

'A seductively murderous Parisian tale' The Times Crime Club

'Funny, superbly over-the-top.... not a page too much' The Times

'A hymn to la vie Parisienne...enjoy it for its fabulistic narrative, and the way it teeters pleasantly on the edge of Gallic whimsy' The Guardian

'Resist this novel if you can; it's the very quintessence of French romance' The Times

'Soaked in Parisian atmosphere, this lovely, clever, funny novel will have you rushing to the Eurostar post-haste... A gem' Daily Mail