Lullaby (Slimani novel)
2016 novel by Leïla Slimani
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Lullaby (French: Chanson douce, lit. 'Sweet song';[6] published as The Perfect Nanny in the United States) is a 2016 novel by French author Leïla Slimani.
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Finty Williams (English)[2]
Collection Blanche cover (first edition) | |
| Author | Leïla Slimani |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Clotilde Courau (French)[1] Finty Williams (English)[2] |
| Original title | Chanson douce |
| Translator | Sam Taylor |
| Language | French |
| Series | Collection Blanche |
| Set in | 10th arrondissement of Paris[3] |
| Publisher | Éditions Gallimard |
| Publication date | 18 August 2016[4] |
| Publication place | France |
Published in English | 9 January 2018[5] |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 240[4] |
| Awards | Prix Goncourt (2016) |
| ISBN | 978-2-07-019667-8 [4] |
| Dewey Decimal | 843/.92 |
| LC Class | PQ2719.L56 C43 2016 |
Plot
The book deals with the murder of two children by their nanny.[7] It was inspired by the real-life 2012 murder of children by their nanny in New York.[8][9]
Background
Lullaby is Slimani's second novel[8] and the first to be translated into English.[10] By January 2018 it had been translated into 18 languages, with intentions for a further 17.[8][7] Originally titled Chanson douce, it was translated as Lullaby for the UK and The Perfect Nanny in the US.[8]
It sold 600,000 copies in France in its first year of publication.[8]
Publication history
- Chanson douce. France: Éditions Gallimard. 18 August 2016. ISBN 978-2-07-019667-8. 240 pages.[4]
- Lullaby. United Kingdom: Faber and Faber. 11 January 2018. ISBN 978-0571337538. 224 pages.[11]
- The Perfect Nanny. United States: Penguin Books. 9 January 2018. ISBN 978-0143132172. 240 pages.[5]
Critical reception
Lullaby was described by Aida Edemariam (writing in The Guardian) as "stylishly written [...] brilliantly executed".[10] It was compared to Gone Girl by both Celia Walden of The Telegraph[9] and Lucy Scholes of The Independent, with the latter describing it as "a psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats".[12]
The novel won the 2016 Prix Goncourt, a top French literary award.[13]
Film adaptation
In 2019, a film adaptation, of the same name in certain countries and entitled Perfect Nanny in some others, was made by director Lucie Borleteau, starring Karin Viard, Leïla Bekhti and Antoine Reinartz.[14]
Television adaptation
In January 2023, it was reported that a planned television limited series adaptation entitled The Perfect Nanny was in development at HBO with Legendary Television co-producing. Nicole Kidman and Maya Erskine are set to star.[15]