The Elegance of the Hedgehog
by Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson holds a well received rating of 3.73 out of 5, based on 101.7K reader ratings. First published in 2006. The book spans 325 pages.
About The Elegance of the Hedgehog
A moving, funny, triumphant novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.We are in the center of Paris, in an elegant apartment building inhabited by bourgeois families. Renée, the concierge, is witness to the lavish but vacuous lives of her numerous employers. Outwardly she conforms to every stereotype of the concierge: fat, cantankerous, addicted to television. Yet, unbeknownst to her employers, Renée is a cultured autodidact who adores art, philosophy, music, and Japanese culture. With humor and intelligence she scrutinizes the lives of the building's tenants, who for their part are barely aware of her existence. Then there's Paloma, a twelve-year-old genius. She is the daughter of a tedious parliamentarian, a talented and startlingly lucid child who has decided to end her life on the sixteenth of June, her thirteenth birthday. Until then she will continue behaving as everyone expects her to behave: a mediocre pre-teen high on adolescent subculture, a good but not an outstanding student, an obedient if obstinate daughter. Paloma and Renée hide both their true talents and their finest qualities from a world they suspect cannot or will not appreciate them. They discover their kindred souls when a wealthy Japanese man named Ozu arrives in the building. Only he is able to gain Paloma's trust and to see through Renée's timeworn disguise to the secret that haunts her. This is a moving, funny, triumphant novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson |
| Published | 2006 |
| Pages | 325 |
| Genres | Fiction, Fiction, Philosophy |
| Average Rating | 3.73 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 101,669 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Elegance of the Hedgehog?
The Elegance of the Hedgehog is categorized as Fiction, Fiction, Philosophy. Its primary genre classification is Philosophy.
Is The Elegance of the Hedgehog worth reading?
Based on 101.7K reader ratings, The Elegance of the Hedgehog has an average score of 3.73 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is The Elegance of the Hedgehog?
The Elegance of the Hedgehog has 325 pages.
Who wrote The Elegance of the Hedgehog?
The Elegance of the Hedgehog was written by Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson. It was first published in 2006.
What is the ISBN for The Elegance of the Hedgehog?
The ISBN-13 for The Elegance of the Hedgehog is 9781933372600.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
