Beatrice Hitchman

bookshelves: debut, autumn-2013, published-2013, fradio, france, art-forms, radio-4, period-piece, glbt
Read from October 26 to November 08, 2013


R4 Drama

BBC BLURB: Honor Blackman, Shelley Conn, Mariah Gale and Samantha Spiro star in Beatrice Hitchman's thrilling debut, adapted by Miranda Davies. A 1914 silent film called Petite Mort holds the key to an infamous murder trial.

1967, Paris. A young journalist, Juliette Blanc (Shelley Conn) investigates the mystery of a missing section of film from a recently rediscovered silent film print from 1914 - Petite Mort. She is contacted by an elderly woman, Adele Roux (Honor Blackman), the star of that infamous film, who seems keen to tell her story.

1913, Paris. The young Adele Roux (Mariah Gale) arrives at the gates of the Pathe film studios, determined to fulfil her ambition to become a screen actress, like her heroine 'Terpsichore' - the beautiful actress, Luce Durand (Samantha Spiro). But her path to fame is not straightforward.

Produced and directed by Emma Harding.

1. 1967, Paris. Young journalist Juliette Blanc investigates the mystery of a missing section of film from a recently rediscovered silent film print from 1914 called Petite Mort.

2. 1913, Paris: The young Adele Roux attends an audition at the Pathe film studios. Paris, 1967: Journalist Juliette Blanc continues her interview with the enigmatic Adele Roux.

3. 1913, Paris: The young Adele Roux is taken by surprise, when her younger sister Camille turns up at her door.

4. Adele is now working as assistant to her screen heroine Luce Durand but betraying her with her husband Andre. However Adele's attraction to Luce grows ever stronger.

5. Adele and her mistress Luce begin a dizzying affair.

6. New Year 1914. Hurt and confused by Luce's treatment of her, Adele succumbs to temptation and betrays her lover.

7. The lovers plan to run away, but Luce doesn't yet know that Adele has taken a film part that she had been expecting to play.

8. Andre discovers Adele and Luce's affair - with violent consequences.

9. The young Adele Roux arrives in court to watch the trial of her former employers and lovers, producer Andre Durand and his beautiful screenstar wife Luce.

10. 1967, Paris. Juliette finally discovers the truth about the film of Petite Mort and the enigmatic Madame Roux.

Greek Mythology The Muse of dancing and choral singing.

Two timelines, fast pace, and if you think that waiting until next year for the next Sarah Waters is distressing then I suggest you may really enjoy this one for the interim. Excellent debut. 3.5*

Igor Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring… (mais)

Recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of cinema, this is a fascinating reflection on the early days of the French Film industry: the book takes the form of an interview and switches between 1967 and 1913 as an elderly actress tells her story to a journalist.

Petit Mort is an erotic thriller, stylish and multilayered, focused around a rediscovered silent film: the mystery is unraveled slowly and with a wealth of subplots and distractions before hitting the reader with a sudden and unexpected twist. Written with delicate assurance, this debut novel marks Hitchman as an author to watch

Be warned however, none of the characters is particuarly likeable - especially not Adele Roux, around whom the tale revolves. The appeal she holds for the legendary [and secretly lesbian] actress Terpichore is unfathomable...… (mais)