INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Winner of the Grand Prix Jules Verne
Finalist for the Prix Renaudot
“[A] comic strip of a novel. . . . Strewn with laugh-out-loud jokes.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A philosophical odyssey. By turns slapstick and serious.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Entertaining and original.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
“A delightfully silly confection.” —The Seattle Times
“Combines farce worthy of Laurel and Hardy with socio-political satire.” —The Washington Times
“Who would have thought that a comedy that mixes flat-pack furniture with magic could tackle some of the biggest subjects of our time? With a big heart, a brilliant sense of humour and an excellent translator, that’s what French writer Romain Puértolas achieves.” —The Independent
“Full of quirky charm. . . . [A] hilarious and touching journey towards redemption and self-knowledge. Delightful.” —The Times (London)
“As astonishing and original as its title—and disarming to boot. . . . Romain Puértolas has given us an amalgam that is both pointed in its social criticism and—dare it be said—charming enough to make Voltaire cringe. . . . It’s fable and it’s farce. It’s satire and it’s spoof. It’s brash and it’s stirring.” —The Anniston Star
“Brilliant . . . A fable, a farce, but also and above all, a delicious satire of the modern world.” —Le Figaro Magazine
“A madcap romantic adventure. . . . Blessed with an energetic bonhomie that’s thoroughly endearing.” —The Mail on Sunday
“A farcical tale with a dark underbelly. . . . A manic yet incisive satire.” —Publishers Weekly
“Very funny.” —Daily Mail
“As heartfelt as it is original.” —GQ (UK)
“Wryly comic. . . . That rare beast: a novel full of heart and conscience that never takes itself too seriously.” —The Guardian (UK)
“[A] quirky, hilarious, elegantly-written farce.” —The Daily Telegraph
“Genuinely funny.” —Vogue (UK)
“If you believe in zen and the art of flat pack furniture, this is the book for you.” —Sunday Express
“As sprightly as it is funny. . . . [Puértolas] piles up the vivid scenes along with oodles of puns.” —L’Express (France)
“A manic fairy tale peppered with wry observations and social criticism. . . . It charms with its exuberance and satirical sensibility. . . . [Puértolas] delights in puns while satirizing consumerism and the capriciousness of the immigration system.” —Shelf Awareness
QUICK VIEW
