“Tenderness” is a romance about love—big, luxurious, and unusual—an account of the peculiar formation of a relationship between a man and a woman, about which it is said: “they’re not a match.” Everyone, including her boss, is in love with the lovely Nathalie, but after suffering a heavy loss, she doesn’t respond to any courtship. Suitors and sympathizers use all sorts of tricks to try to bring her back to life. However, to revive Nathalie’s feelings, genuine delicacy is required. And this rare gift doesn’t always go to superheroes…
Young Frenchman David Foenkinos (born 1974) is one of the brightest writers of his generation, and—according to countless fans—simply the very best. He has more than ten novels to his name, including “The Erotic Potential of My Wife” and “Idiotism à l’envers” published here.