Rights sold to: Germany (Blanvalet), Italy (Corbaccio), Korea (Prume), The Netherlands (De Geus)
Before she dies, the free spirited Fosca embarks on one last trip to Venice with her elective grand-daughter Constance. There is apparently little in common between the adventurous older woman and her careful, well behaved young companion. Yet a deep friendship binds them together and in the course of the journey Fosca entertains Constance with an open hearted account of her life. She recalls her childhood as a rich heiress, and all the men, lovers and husbands, who passed through her life... After Fosca's death, Constance inherits her mysterious black book-note, and discovers a new facet of her friend's personality. She also realises that she herself holds the answers to many questions.
Simonetta Greggio is Italian. She has lived in France for twenty years. She is forty and La Douceur des Hommes is her first novel.