53 pages • 1 hour read
French Exit
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Book Brief
256
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • Contemporary
2018
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
French Exit, by Patrick Dewitt, follows the story of Frances Price, a wealthy Manhattan widow, and her adult son, Malcolm, who face financial ruin and decide to move to Paris. As they navigate their new lives, the two encounter quirky characters, such as a clairvoyant, and confront their past, including secrets about Frances's deceased husband, leading to profound personal transformations. This book includes themes of death by suicide.
Dark
Humorous
Mysterious
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
30,381 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
French Exit by Patrick DeWitt is a darkly comedic tale of a wealthy widow and her son fleeing scandal in New York for Paris. Critics praise DeWitt's sharp wit, distinctive characters, and eccentric storyline. Some, however, find the plot meandering and the humor uneven. Overall, it is lauded for its unique narrative voice and memorable prose.
Who Should Read French Exit?
Readers who enjoy dark comedies, satirical tones, and flawed, eccentric characters will be captivated by Patrick DeWitt's French Exit. Fans of the social critique in The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe or the absurdist humor in A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole will appreciate this novel.
30,381 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Malcolm Price
Malcolm Price
Frances's son, a brooding and unkempt thirty-two-year-old, struggling to achieve independence and searching for meaningful connections in life.
Small Frank/Franklin
Small Frank/Franklin
The family cat possessed by the spirit of Frances’s deceased husband, Franklin, once a dashing lawyer with a commanding presence.
Mme Reynard
Mme Reynard
An open and honest woman who befriends Frances and Malcolm, inviting them into her life with disarming vulnerability and humor.
Susan
Susan
Malcolm's fiancée, who breaks up with him early in the story, frustrated by his inability to choose her over his mother, Frances.
Joan
Joan
Frances’s lifelong friend who provides comfort and a glimpse into Frances's emotional side, and shares a deep, enduring friendship with her.
256
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • Contemporary
2018
Adult
18+ years
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