Summary of Lullaby
Myriam and Paul live with their two young children, Mila and Adam, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. When Myriam decides to return to work, they employ Louise, a middle-aged widow, as their nanny. Louise appears to be perfect: the children adore her, and she also cleans the flat and prepares elaborate meals. She becomes indispensable to the family, but troubling aspects of her behaviour begin to emerge. The novel opens with Louise’s murder of the two children before going back in time to explore the events that led to this horrific crime.
Reasons to read Lullaby
Lullaby (published in the United States as The Perfect Nanny) is a disturbing psychological thriller about motherhood, class differences and the complex relationship between a family and the woman they employ to care for their children. It became an international bestseller and won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2016. The novel was inspired by the real-life murder of two children by their nanny in New York in 2012. Other notable works by French-Moroccan author Leïla Slimani include Adèle and The Country of Others.
Setting: Paris (France)
The family live in a flat on Rue d’Hauteville in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. Discover more books set in Paris.
Original title: Chanson douce
Year of publication: 2016
Nr of pages: 218
