Mygale [MIG-uh-lee] n.: a genus of large tropical spiders. . . .
Richard Lafargue, a well-known plastic surgeon, pursues and captures Vincent Moreau, who raped Lafargue’s daughter and left her hopelessly mad in an asylum. Lafargue is determined to exact an atrocious vengeance, and an ambiguous, even sadomasochistic relationship develops between self-appointed executioner and victim.
"Great art in nightmarish darkness."—Michel Lebrun
Thierry Jonquet (b. 1954, Paris) is an exponent of the hardboiled style of French noir that is inflected by post–May 1968 politics and social critique. His crime novels and children’s books have garnered many literary prizes.
Review
" 'Ingenious,' 'elegant,' 'sinister' -- these are also adjectives that approximate, but fall short of, the narrative power of 'Mygale.' -- The Washington Post Book World, January 19, 2003
"...Jonquet's prose is rough hewn, the panache is all in 'Mygale's' bizarre setup, gruesome scenarios and gender bending ending." -- St. Petersberg Times, Jan 12, 2003
Watch your skin crawl with this slim French tickler... -- –East Bay Express, July 30, 2003
Language Notes
Text: English (translation) Original Language: French
Description:
Mygale [MIG-uh-lee] n.: a genus of large tropical spiders. . . .
Richard Lafargue, a well-known plastic surgeon, pursues and captures Vincent Moreau, who raped Lafargue’s daughter and left her hopelessly mad in an asylum. Lafargue is determined to exact an atrocious vengeance, and an ambiguous, even sadomasochistic relationship develops between self-appointed executioner and victim.
"Great art in nightmarish darkness."—Michel Lebrun
Thierry Jonquet (b. 1954, Paris) is an exponent of the hardboiled style of French noir that is inflected by post–May 1968 politics and social critique. His crime novels and children’s books have garnered many literary prizes.
Review
" 'Ingenious,' 'elegant,' 'sinister' -- these are also adjectives that approximate, but fall short of, the narrative power of 'Mygale.' -- The Washington Post Book World, January 19, 2003
"...Jonquet's prose is rough hewn, the panache is all in 'Mygale's' bizarre setup, gruesome scenarios and gender bending ending." -- St. Petersberg Times, Jan 12, 2003
Watch your skin crawl with this slim French tickler... -- –East Bay Express, July 30, 2003
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French