Natalie Azoulay’s novel, awarded in 2015 with the prestigious Premio Medici, frames the life story of the great tragedian Jean Racine (1639–1699) within a modern story of a romantic breakup—turning a “school classic” into the confession of the narrator, her “brother in misfortune.”
From reviews:
“Racine’s biography is woven together with the story of a girl who, in our days, is experiencing the betrayal of her lover like the Jewish queen Berenice. Times change, but passions still rage in people’s souls. Even today there are tragedies with an ancient plot. The book brought immense pleasure.”