Memory by Philippe Grimbert

Twenty years after his mother and father jumped to their deaths from a balcony, French psychoanalyst Philippe Grimbert has written the gripping true story of the hidden memories that dominated their lives.

He grew up in post-war Paris, the son of beautiful and athletic parents, Tania and Maxime. An awkward child, he felt he didn't measure up to the dreams of his father. He often wished for an older brother and, after finding toys packed in the attic, invented one. Their neighbour Louise treated him like family, and respected the secrets his parents kept. When he turned fifteen, on the anniversary of the 1945 victory, the school showed a documentary on the horrible fate of the Jews. It was time to reveal to him the truth of his past; his parents were married to others before he was born.

As Germany invaded France, Tania's first husband enlisted and never returned. With the legalization of the inferiority of Jews, Louise and others were forced to wear the star.

Her father was married to Hannah, and they had a son, Simon—their pride and delight. In a secret operation that cordoned off the whole 11th arrondissement, Hannah and Simon were captured by the Germans, never to be seen again.

Tania and Maxime found each other and rebuilt their lives—erasing the names and memory of Simon and Hannah from their history.

Many years later, Philippe was able to discover in government documents where Hannah and Simon were taken and what became of them. This is spare and somber, but an essential story. Presented as autobiographical fiction lessens some of the bleakness, but not the tragedy.

Originally published as Secret, this was a colossal bestseller in Europe, awarded two of France's most prestigious literary prizes - the Prix Goncourt and the Prix des Lectrices d'Elle.

It was filmed in France in 2007 as A Secret.

2004 / Hardcover / 160 pages